Declan Rice as number 6, bring more stability in term both of offence and defence. But I really miss Partey dinamism, close control, and his ability to relieve pressure. With Partey and Rice, I believe they can switch position in play if needed, and create the unpredictability that Arteta really keen on. Was hoping he come and sub Jorginho last night. The fluidity that we have last year is what we missing this year, and its Xhaka-Partey that leaves a hole.
I think Partey as 6 and Rice as 8.
Partey has the elite press resistance as a pivot. He can play inside a mid block but Rice is not as comfortable at the moment and tends to drift wide or form a back three with the CBs to progress play. In my opinion, the true reason why we cannot play fluid football like last year is because we don’t have Partey and Zinny inside a mid block.
Think how Chelsea squeezed us in the first half again. It was a 442 mid block. Zinny was not as frequently inside the mid block, Jorgi is too slow and Rice’s great moments really come from runs down the byline instead of in the central area.
Partey sitting inside the block will solve every single issue.
We are lacking his ability to turn under pressure and play directly through the middle or out to saka early enough for him to be on the run or 1v1.
If we are going to play partey it’s going to be in a double 6 with Rice or with rice at 8 (although essentially this is the same thing imo given rice has the legs to be basically everywhere). Or we’ll try that RB position for him again.
Either way, the best attacking football we’ve played over the last two years has been when partey is in his role as the deep progressor, recieving deep turning and playing quality passes through the lines or to saka. And that’s becuase he’s literally one of the best 6s at central progression in the world, he’s a cheat code in that respect.
Many people said this before we signed rice, the big tactical story this season will be about how we move beyond partey, but that isn’t going to be a completely smooth transition. There’s very few players like him and we are going to have to find new ways of playing without him.
Timber, Havertz and rice all potentially offered ways to progress the ball if partey isn’t there, that’s not a coincidence. It’s a huge transition for us tactically.