Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

3 things to watch as Arsenal host Man Utd on Sunday

By Victor Salazar

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli and Olesandr Zinchenko of Arsenal celebrate their team being awarded a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on August 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli and Olesandr Zinchenko of Arsenal celebrate their team being awarded a penalty during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on August 26, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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Thomas Partey will likely be favoured in midfield. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Thomas Partey will likely be favoured in midfield. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) /

2. Who joins Rice and Odeegard?

It can’t be Kai Havertz. In three matches the German international has not found his place in the side. It seems like the same story while he was at Chelsea. So who takes his spot? Fabio Vieira was sensational last weekend providing the Gunners with a much-needed spark off the bench in a match where Arsenal should have come from behind and won.

Vieria is creative but he lacks defensive awareness and ability. United have talent in midfield as well as pace and guile out wide. That may leave Arsenal open on the counter. Does Arteta push the pace with Vieira and rely on Rice to handle all the pressure in the midfield? Or does he give Rice some cover to play further forward and rely on Thomas Partey in the pivot? I like the idea of Vieira but I would prefer Partey and Rice. Rice has shown he can be involved in the build-up and Partey is an established defensive midfielder.

I need to see more from Vieira before I can discount the dependability of Partey as a DM.

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