Thomas Partey - the footballer: Page 29 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Thomas Partey - the footballer

Burnwinter

Claudius And on Arteta. We defend well and control games well. We have only one small issue and one big issue. The big issue is creating chances. The small issue is a big drop off in finishing off chances since start of December.

We have a superb squad with an intelligent, ferociously committed leader in Arteta. I would never doubt Mikel's determination, he's already seen off very difficult moments.

Before West Ham we were topping the league so what we gonna gripe about a fortnight later? This is not the dark night of the soul.

However, major trophy success looks to depend on another great flash of insight, another evolutionary step that seems lacking. At many clubs if not Arsenal, that step would be to change the manager again, so I hope Arteta's got the wisdom to transform himself instead.

daredevil

Qwiss

It's why Zinchenko falling out of form has compounded issues.

If the collective passing ability of our box last season across Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka and Odegaard was 100, it feels like it's dropped down to 70 this season. We are too slow and predictable in moving the ball in the first and middle third, meaning that the attackers are not only receiving the ball too deep, it's also against settled defences making it even more difficult for them to penetrate.

People keep saying that we need to sign a top striker to convert chances, I say the problem is that we're not creating enough chances. We could obviously do with both.

Big Willie

daredevil People keep saying that we need to sign a top striker to convert chances, I say the problem is that we're not creating enough chances. We could obviously do with both.

This.

Coombs

daredevil People keep saying that we need to sign a top striker to convert chances, I say the problem is that we're not creating enough chances. We could obviously do with both.

No, we need a top striker if we are to create and convert chances. When Martinelli beats his man and there is nobody to get on the end of the cutback, no chance is even registered. Creating chances isn't really a thing on its own. It's an abstraction used to criticize tactics and absolve players. Creating and converting come together. They also leave together.

Qwiss

daredevil A top striker helps you create chances too by being in the right places at the right times. We need that focal point to our attacks.

MistaT

Well said @Coombs -- and you can add Saka to that point, as he is incredibly passive at attacking the box when a cross comes in. In our setup, with a "chance" being created by Martinelli, you'd love to see Havertz attack the front post, Jesus central, Odegaard top of box, and Saka on back post. I'm constantly disappointed at how few of these options are there for Martinelli.

RocktheCasbah

MistaT I remember Ally McCoist making that exact criticism of Saka in either the game we drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in 2019, or the one we won a year later. Bit frustrating that he hasn't really switched on from there as I think it'd give him a few easy goals. For all his faults, Pepe was excellent at getting in at the back post.

lorddulaarsenal

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert yep
Could definitely improve on that front.

JazzG

He also says hopefully a matter of weeks rather than months, sounds like he won't be playing this month.

Qwiss

We've very little football this month, if we could get him back for February and have him starting by March it'd be a big boost.

lorddulaarsenal

Interesting

Claudius

lorddulaarsenal that City game in the Community Shield was so exciting. We were doing some very interesting things throughout the field, including with Partey and Timber. It’s been sad to lose them both - and it’s had compounding effects all over the rear half of the field, and up into attacking midfield.

Timber is the player we like to think AMN was. Elite interior and exterior fullback on both flanks.

lorddulaarsenal

Probably the last two players you want to be out if you’re trying to craft good football build up play

Lukazan

Judging by what Arteta has said there it seems the long term plan was to play Partey in the inverted right back role. Speculating, but looks like when everyone is fit and he is selecting his best team, Arteta sees no room in midfield for Partey after signing Rice and Havertz, but he still wants the qualities Partey possesses on the pitch. Assuming the LB spot was Timber's, that frees up Zinchenko, Tomiyasu and White to rotate and fill in where need be when injuries and fatigue hit.

Big Willie

Lukazan Judging by what Arteta has said there it seems the long term plan was to play Partey in the inverted right back role.

Yup, its pretty clear that's what he wanted, and by the lineups we set up with at the start. In that case thank fuck he got injured because I don't think I'd have been ok with Gabriel being sacrificed like that and ending up a bit part player who is eventually loses match fitness and conditioning with people then saying that he's doesn't get that many minutes because he's not good enough.

RowJimmy

Big Willie
The thing that didn't make sense to me about that line-up was not using Partey and Timber at FB but the fact that White was at RCB with Saliba shifted over rather than just keeping Saliba and Gabriel in their normal positions.

Big Willie

RowJimmy The thing that didn't make sense to me about that line-up was not using Partey and Timber at FB but the fact that White was at RCB with Saliba shifted over rather than just keeping Saliba and Gabriel in their normal positions.

That was super weird tbh. Shifting so many pieces at once is so unlike Arteta. Looks like he really, really wanted to fit in the new signings.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Was Gabriel dropped because of rumours he was going to the Saudi league or something?

Big Willie

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Was Gabriel dropped because of rumours he was going to the Saudi league or something

Think the rumours came about because he was dropped. Rumours he was unhappy and wanted a move etc. Just press jumping to conclusions after the fact.

RocktheCasbah

There was loads of speculation, wasn't there? I remember at the time, Elliott Smith on Arsenalvision was adamant Gabriel had just been dropped for tactical reasons, which would have tied with Dula's complaints about ball progression ability.... But I guess we'll never really know for sure.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

RocktheCasbah it's possible, but Gabriel is underrated in that aspect and we need a left-footer in that position.

Should have played:

---------Rice-----Partey
Timber--Gabriel--Saliba

(On the ball when Partey inverts)

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