Cobra Kai Deeper
When we signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea, I made the point that he provided 6 tactical options for Mikel Arteta.
The first was in the left sided central midfield role that I expected to be his main position for us. After that it was as a centre forward, a position he has since made his own. He was also an option on the wing, and to play in the right hand side central role, covering Martin Odegaard.
Whilst Havertz does not have the subtly of touch of Odegaard, he would be a decent option there, and the closest like for like “senior” option we have. It would also see Gabriel Jesus return to the being our centre forward.
If Odegaard is out long term, this might be the best long term solution.
Cobra Kai II
Another option on how to use Havertz is to have him in the number 10 role rather than the left hand sided 8. This is similar to how we set up against Tottenham.
The returning Declan Rice gets move deeper to play alongside either Thomas Partey, Jorginho or Mikel Merino, and then Havertz plays in behind Gabriel Jesus.
This switch allows us to use Havertz height as an outball on the both the left and right, whilst also plays Havertz a little bit further forward where he can focus on being more of a finisher than creator.
A big issue, however, is that one of our main threats is overloading the left and right. Saka and Martinelli will no longer have Odegaard or Rice directly inside them and will have to do more of the creativity themselves.
Ethan Nwaneri
We were happy letting Fabio Vieira go out on loan in the summer due to the development of Ethan Nwaneri.
Vieira can probably consider himself a little unlucky.
2-years at Arsenal providing cover for Martin Odegaard, and our captain does not get injured. The moment he leaves, Odegaard picks up a knock. This would have been the opportunity Vieira was waiting for. I am not sure if we have a call-back option.
Nwaneri showed against Tottenham that he is ready to be a Premier League footballer. But that is very different to being ready to be the main creative outlet for a title chasing team for 6-months.
What I would expect is for Arteta to go with one of his more senior options, and Nwaneri comes in for those “easier” games and for 30-minute cameos. He could also be a game changer from the bench.
Bukayo Saka
One player to consider is Bukayo Saka.
He certainly has both the touch, technique and eye for a pass to play more centrally. He could be the man to replace Odegaard. And could well show that he has a central position in his future – similar to when Ryan Giggs’ legs went, and he started playing more centrally.
Saka moves centrally, and then Arteta has the option of either Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling to play on the right and left. it is one to consider.
Klopp midfield solution
Liverpool at their best had a “workman like” midfield.
Jurgen Klopp sacrificed creativity in the middle to play an impregnable trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita. These combined to allow Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to be more free from defensive duties, and also covered Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson who became the teams creative force.
In Declan Rice, Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino, we could play a deeper midfield that would allow Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz to replicate Salah, Mane and Firmino.
My only concern is Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko are not in the same mold as Trent and Robertson. They tend not to hold the width and look to overlap their winger. White can do this, but not to the same level as Trent, whilst Timber and Zinchenko will both always look to come inside. Kieran Tierney would however thrive in Klopp’s formation.
This would be an option against the likes of Manchester City away, where we might look to sacrifice our attacking instincts with a solid midfield. But it feels too defensive for playing lesser teams like West Ham at home.
Other options
Mikel Merino got 9 assists for Real Sociedad last year. Instead of having Rice, Partey and Merino as deeper, could both Rice and Merino play more advanced and offer a different sort of creativity to Odegaard’s subtle touches?
Leandro Trossard has also played plenty of games in behind the striker. Whilst I prefer him coming in from the left half of the pitch onto his right foot, the Belgium could replace Odegaard whilst having little impact on our structure.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 