Arsenal Star’s Return Prompts Selection Headache

We all love a good rumble, don’t we?

Next up on the list of internal debates in the Arsenal circle will regard our midfield. An area of the pitch where there is some healthy competition at last – well, a bit more – and Mikel Arteta has options.

The rumble aspect will centre around who should partner Thomas Partey.

He will (should) start each and every week having blown us all away with near faultless full debut, thus the topic of who gets the pleasure of playing alongside him is sure to be a season-long debate.

As confirmed by the club, Dani Ceballos is back and available for selection having missed out in midweek. What next?

Fans appear split on whether Granit Xhaka or Ceballos should partner Partey (on the basis that Bukayo Saka maintains his spot on the left side, which he should). Xhaka, having become an integral figure in the side, will be aggrieved to see himself dropped. Ceballos likewise, having began to show his true colours since Arteta took the job.

Both offer something completely different, and both would also bestow a different role upon Partey. At a point where flair in central areas, someone to occupy the inside spaces, is lacking, the need for locksmith to pick apart tight defences is imperative. If it were down to that, then Ceballos would be the obvious candidate.

Partey in behind him as a more mobile holding midfielder would grant the Spaniard greater freedom to roam with a less weighty defensive monkey on his back. Forced to be wary of turnovers in possession has limited his attacking substance, an area of his game that would be unlocked with the Ghanaian’s added defensive assurance.

That way, Arsenal could allow both Bukayo Saka and Ceballos opportunities to tuck in between the full-backs on either side and overload wide areas. Seems simple, right?

With Xhaka, a seemingly defensive midfield area could be deceiving; Partey’s drives with the ball could pull teams apart who are in a mid-block. Bursting through the lines and catching the opponent cold will provide Nicolas Pepe and the like more space to either run at defenders, or beyond them. All of which is simple in principle, of course.

Arteta does now, however, have options that can differ from Plan A, which oftentimes has come unstuck. Saka can’t do everything.

Who would you like in midfield?