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Arteta’s preferred Arsenal lineup for 2021/22 season
Midfielders
Thomas Partey (RCM) – A great deal of this campaign hinges on not only Thomas Partey hitting top form, but actually being out of the treatment room long enough to display it.
If he’s crocked, Arsenal are left with a 21-year-old Belgian to take his Champions League-experienced self’s place. Sambi looks great, he just isn’t Partey. Yet.
A strong season from the Ghanaian (which we’re going to pretend starts now) is paramount to Arsenal achieving any modicum of success.
Granit Xhaka (LCM) – A mistake to keep hold of him and award his desire to leave with a new contract? Yes.
Also the best player in the squad to partner Partey and, on his day, one half of a solid enough midfield duo? Yes.
Martin Odegaard (AM) – The man he wanted all summer long, and pretty much since he arrived on loan in January, is a dead certain to be starting under Arteta if the squad is fully fit as he offers the facilitating qualities that no other player can bring.
Emile Smith Rowe can’t spend the season as the sole creative player and by adding Odegaard there is the vital addition of centrality to Arsenal’s game to avoid them slipping into their predictable build-up bias.