Mik Merino: Page 6 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Mik Merino

flobaba

Claudius and don't forget Timber. Whether he's playing on the left or right, he needs time to develop and get in sync with his midfield (and wing) link up partners.
I don't think both Rice and Merino play deep unless we are going ultra defensive for some reason. Our 8 moves up and wide into spaces which open up based on positioning of the left winger, and to accommodate full back inversion

Mirth

TambourineMan after seeing Rice for England I’m not too sure about that

Claudius

Mirth I get uncomfortable with these England takeaways. Trent didn’t look good at right back. Rice didn’t look good at DM. Bellingham and Kane got in each others’ ways. Foden constantly looked lost. I really don’t believe this monstrous England team should be the barometer for what any player can do. Rice is a very good passer and ball progressor.

What does he have to work on? It’s his shape when he receives the ball so he can release quickly. Basically what am I doing next, and how do I evade my marker? I think you just have to learn that over time. Other than Fabregas, I’ve rarely seen a young DM do it extremely well.

USArsenal

I think people are assuming both Rice and Merino will play set roles and stick to them. I think we will see "whoever needs to be a 6 or 8 at any particular moment in the game" will slide into that role. I think they will both share the 6 and 8 role during games.

Mirth

Claudius I get uncomfortable with these England takeaways

I'm not just citing England though - he was neutered playing for Arsenal as a 6 as well. Still very good overall but his best form has been in an advanced role.

Also Rice isn't exactly young - he's 25 and a lot of his traits are now established. The way forward is likely some kind re-configuration of our midfield where the weaknesses are less apparent.

Gazza M

you guys are preaching to the choir about the misgivings of moving rice back to 6, but I think it's inevitable. the dynamic will be different though. he will be surrounded by superior players to alleviate too much buildup responsibility. calafiori and timber will offer lots of dynamism, and merino often drops into the 6 zone to pick the ball up off the back four as well. rice at 6 has been a source of consternation for me, but I can see a path where it's not as big of an issue as it was previously.

Don Pacifico

Maybe I'm being naive but I think this whole 6 and 8 debate is a bit overblown. Think the way we set up is less about positional/responsibility rigidity as opposed to filling our midfield with the right kind of attributes.

Imagine Rice will interchange quite fluidly in-game as needed between roles.

RocktheCasbah

Don Pacifico Exactly how I've read this signing too.

Don Pacifico

RocktheCasbah to be fair, it might just be that my brain has melted after having so much discussion about two single digit numbers this summer!

samthegooner

After watching Rice play as high as he ever has this past weekend, I think getting him deeper and closer to the defense so he's more involved and can snuff out counter attacks and transition opportunities is where I want to see him this year. I agree with the belief that a lot of our struggles when Rice was playing deeper last year were mostly due to who we would then have to play in the 8. I may be wrong but I seem to remember Rice played deeper against Liverpool in the second league game, with Jorginho playing the left 8 role and we looked great in that game. Put Merino in the left 8 and I think we will look even better. When he is on form, Partey's progressive passing is great which we saw in the first half of the Villa game but he still has lapses where he misplaces simple passes and he is absolutely a statue defending transition opportunities these days. I'd be much more willing to bet on small improvements in Rice's progressive passing with Merino in the fold than I would bet on Partey regaining any athleticism that would help him defend large spaces in transition so that's what I would like to see us developing this year. I also think Rice has more potential to be a world class destroyer 6 than he does being an all action 8 and I'd rather us look for a real superstar in the 8 (Wirtz/Musiala/Vitinha/etc) in the next two summers as we replace Jorginho and Partey.

MistaT

When has Arteta allowed fluid in game role changes?

We never saw Xhaka and Partey swap, so why are we now expecting that for Merino and Rice?

Claudius

MistaT watch the pre-season games. There was actually a lot of movement there. Across the front, within the midfield. From the fullbacks to midfield. You could see the team were comfortable in their basic structure and were allowed to jazz it up a bit more.

The thing with freedom of movement in these systems though is it has an impact on defensive assignments should you lose the ball. If everyone is scattered, you will be easy to cut through. A lot of offensive positioning is driven by the ability to quickly recover possession should we lose it

Gazza M

MistaT true actually. there is some interchangeability further up the pitch, but the 6 and 8 take up specific positions and don't interchange much

CPM

He seems like a great personality.

RocktheCasbah

CPM yep, I watched this earlier too. Thought he came across really well, what he said and how he said it. Think we're gonna be an even tougher nut to crack once he gets settled in.

Clrnc

Injured and doubt for the Brighton game

QuincyAbeyie

Clrnc
Doesn't seem like it's just a doubt, unfortunately.

Panda

Yep Arteta confirmed he has injured his shoulder and is out for weeks...great.

Burnwinter

QuincyAbeyie Bloody hell. That's a real setback.

daredevil

QuincyAbeyie

Just saw the presser, he said it's a small fracture, whatever comfort that might offer.

Don Pacifico

Arteta confirmed it then. Annoying but at least the injury coincides with an international break.

Qwiss

Very disappointing but as long as the other mids are fit its not a big issue.

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