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This, I will admit, is baffling.
It’s now clear even to our thickest fans that playing Rice as an 8 was always in Arteta’s plans-- but, of course, with Thomas at the 6, especially against our strongest opposition. Playing Rice as an 8 with Thomas injured ia effectively to prefer Jorginho, on balance, to Havertz, ESR, and Vieira-- but it also gets the worst out of Rice as an 8, because he now has to play both roles at once to provide protection and elder care for Senhor Frello. The further injuries to ESR and Ødegaard has forced Arteta’s hand here a little, but I sincerely hope we won’t see him attempting to carry us at the 6 until Christmas; I would much rather see Rice at the 6, and Ødegaard and whoever as the 8s.