Where do 10 of Arsenal's Young Stars Fit Next Season?

Where do 10 of Arsenal’s young stars fit next season?

Arsenal's Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli (R) is replaced by Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Emile Smith Rowe started last season brilliantly. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Another player that played a lot off the left-wing last season.

I am personally very curious about the possibility of Smith Rowe lining up next to Ødegaard in midfield as a pair of 8s with Thomas Partey behind them as we’ve only seen this once (Palace H). But, every time that a variation of this has been played the midfield has been overrun with the lack of defensive stature from Ødegaard and Smith Rowe leaving Partey with far too much space to cover.

Tactically, it could look very similar to how City line up their midfield with Rodri sitting behind the attacking duo of Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. That has yet to work, but I do not feel that Mikel Arteta is ready to give up on this attacking midfield ploy just yet because if a balance could be achieved with those two playing in the half-spaces for Arsenal, it could take the creativity and fluidity of the team up a level.

As of right now with no other wingers having been bought in the summer, I think Smith Rowe stays in a similar role to last season: rotating with Martinelli on the left and covering for Ødegaard as an #8. But, I don’t think we have seen the last of Arteta trying to have them together in midfield.

Continued on the next slide…