After an underwhelming few years, Arsenal took a big step in the right direction in the 2022/23 season. Although their silverware drought continued, they jumped up to second in the league and gave Manchester City a real run for their money, quite clearly looking like the second-best side in the country behind the treble-winners. The
Rodri mostly plays in a midfield with Gundogan and De Bruyne.
Gundogan makes almost as many interceptions as Rodri: 0.9/90 for Rodri, 0.8/90 for Gundogan. It makes sense because at Dortmund under Klopp Gundogan was a defensive midfielder.
While De Bruyne isn’t as much of a CM as the other two, he’s an experienced, 32 year old player who has played in central midfield for a long time, so he knows his position and what’s expected of him.
I think a Havertz, Rice, Odegaard midfield would be dangerously weak defensively. Odegaard is learning to be a better defender, but he’s still better as someone who presses and harries, rather than someone who sits and cuts off passing lanes. Havertz played a little bit as a CM for Leverkusen before he was 20, but for most of his career he’s been a second striker or a striker.
Besides, at Man City, the midfield doesn’t spend much time defending. They’re probably the best team on the planet right now, and most of their opponents will sit back and only rarely attack. Arsenal is a good team and will force most teams to defend, but not to the same extent. Because of that, Arsenal can’t get away with a midfield that is so attacking.
@merc
Rodri does this job ok enough although I agree it’s a big burden.
Rodri mostly plays in a midfield with Gundogan and De Bruyne.
Gundogan makes almost as many interceptions as Rodri: 0.9/90 for Rodri, 0.8/90 for Gundogan. It makes sense because at Dortmund under Klopp Gundogan was a defensive midfielder.
While De Bruyne isn’t as much of a CM as the other two, he’s an experienced, 32 year old player who has played in central midfield for a long time, so he knows his position and what’s expected of him.
I think a Havertz, Rice, Odegaard midfield would be dangerously weak defensively. Odegaard is learning to be a better defender, but he’s still better as someone who presses and harries, rather than someone who sits and cuts off passing lanes. Havertz played a little bit as a CM for Leverkusen before he was 20, but for most of his career he’s been a second striker or a striker.
Besides, at Man City, the midfield doesn’t spend much time defending. They’re probably the best team on the planet right now, and most of their opponents will sit back and only rarely attack. Arsenal is a good team and will force most teams to defend, but not to the same extent. Because of that, Arsenal can’t get away with a midfield that is so attacking.