I'd go
Havertz----Trossard----Saka
------Rice--------Ode------
------------Partey----------
Timber-Gabriel-Saliba-White
-----------Ramsdale
Martinelli is great but he doesn't appear fully match fit for me, so I'd go with Havertz for this one.
Although Havertz starts out wide, he'll play the same way Pedri and Gavi do when they start wide for Barca i.e. drop into midfield to form a box midfield, which would negate the need for an inverted fullback (great for Tierney as he can be very useful as an overlapping fullback). Something like this:
------Havertz----Ode---
------Rice-------Partey--
We have been pants defensively since the turn of the year, even before Saliba's injury. That's why I think it's too risky to start experimenting with an even more attacking midfield set up, certainly not against any decent opposition (Havertz as an 8 could be a secret weapon against the bus parkers though). However let's focus on getting that defensively stability first, and then we can slowly start experimenting as the team matures/gels further. Therefore, Partey-Rice-Odegaard would be my starting midfield.
I know there are discussions on here about Partey, but he's top quality IMO. Ultimately a player with his injury record can't be the 6 for long in a Pep or Arteta team. That position is crucial to how we or City play. Therefore the 6 should have a near perfect injury record. Busquets used to play ridiculous amount of games for Guardiola, same applies to Rodri at the moment. I think that's what Arteta is currently looking for in that position and I believe that's why he's looking to phase Partey out. We shouldn't rush it though otherwise it could backfire.
I have fallen in love with Rice's personality, desperate for him to do well but I'm sceptical about his suitability to a playmaking role (which's what the number 6 position is in our system). He has massive potential as a number 8 IMO.
