Rice needs to be able to use his superpowers. That means giving him license to burst forward from deeper positions, and make recovery tackles. Zubi-Rice double-pivot, with wildly different remits aligned with their attributes, and a freer role for Odegaard. No more inverting left backs!

    DiabyKungFu I think that it might be better that he isn't a like for like. We saw last week that he can get forward and score goals from the wing but we've also seen his close control and associative play in the interior. Personally, I think he will be a good option to have at both spots but also wouldn't complain if we had other options available as well. If we do rely on him as a RW backup, we desperately need to add more pace on the other side.

      Coombs — couldn’t agree more! Would also let our left wing stay higher up.

        I hold no interest in this guy unless we sign a forward!

        Feels like news that has been released to get us excited about next season because they know this season is a write-off.

          TambourineMan Feels like news that has been released to get us excited about next season because they know this season is a write-off.

          Do even the biggest Martin Zubimendi fans really think that signing Martin Zubimendi is an "excited about next season"-level signing?

            Coombs that for some games but switch to Ode as part of the pivot with Nwaneri in the free role against low blocks. We have a generational 10 in Nwaneri, we need to get him where he can do the most damage.

                Excited might be too strong of a word but it does feel like a ploy to manage tensions.

                  Zubimendi is a good signing - particularly to replace what Jorginho gives us.

                  Partey is better though

                    Qwiss I'd be thrilled to see it.

                      my only niggle since we were linked with this guy is he's not one of the genius technical spanish pass masters that will give us a major creative spark from deep. his passing is decent but not super adventerous/progressive, but he looks more inclined to drive forward with the ball than your average Spanish pivot mid. he looks more like a smaller version of partey, but with less explosion and less brave passing. he'll solidify our control ball tactics and probably create a nice twin-raiding tandem dynamic with rice.

                      TambourineMan think this may be a little cynical. Suspect it's more likely the reason it's come out now is because it's the transfer window so (a) journalists are a investing more time in sourcing transfer stories and (b) a team like City have been sniffing round him this month to replace Rodriguez, so further reason for the press to investigate what's going on with Zubimendi specifically.

                          Don Pacifico
                          Don’t be naive man. Arsenal would have briefed the journalists on this. It’s a clear PR move as I’ve seen it. You only do these moves in a crisis 😉

                              • JazzG

                              • Post #39

                              Sicario2 - Tier 1 Possibly true but I also think that we haven't just quickly agreed a deal with Zubimendi to keep the fans happy, this was probably done in the last few months or maybe even last summer.

                              We run a tighter operation these days, unlike in the summer where Liverpool end up getting embarrassed I don't think we'd brief journalists without knowing this deal is done.

                                lorddulaarsenal Partey from 2-3 seasons ago was but not the current iteration and especially not when you take into account the shame he puts on the kit every time we march him out there. He's lost all his athleticism on the field and while Zubimendi isn't going to fill his older boots, he's a more fluid athlete than both Jorginho and Partey are currently while being an elite reader of the game a la Jorginho.