DiamondGooner wrote:ag6789 wrote:Did a lot of running, but the midfield was falling behind and pegged back as the game progressed, so he could not influence the game later.
Agreed.
Hence my comment on him being in a front 3 or 2 would benefit him rather than being isolated.
It's why, as impressive as all our signings have been (this is coming from one of the more positive, pro-Arteta fans here), we'll repeat last year's f**k-up if we don't sort the midfield out.
There's so much to love about this new squad, but Xhaka is still Xhaka, and Partey has only shown glimpses of the player we all expected him to be.
Partey is inconsistent and Xhaka will always be a liability. We're one injury (or more than likely, one suspension) from seeing fringe players in the midfield, conceding possession, slow play, no transition... and an isolated front line.
We've got a lethal attacking line, with some very decent cover, but they'll be rendered ineffective if there aren't midfield signings (plural!)