Arsenal should strategy this afternoon’s fixture in opposition to Manchester Metropolis with the target of returning to the capital with three factors within the bag.

The previous two Premier League campaigns have seen Mikel Arteta‘s good Gunners carry out with gusto and elite-level tactical utility, however each instances, they’ve fallen simply quick in opposition to Pep Guardiola‘s successful machine.

Now, these of an Arsenal persuasion know that the best of margins determine a showdown for silverware in opposition to the Residents, whose capacity to get the job completed is one thing intrinsic, a type of muscle reminiscence collective motion that sees the competitors toppled time and time once more.

Solely, Arsenal are hungry, ravenous, even, Arteta received the FA Cup over 4 years in the past at hand him his first main honour as a supervisor, regardless that he’d solely inherited Unai Emery’s struggling facet the earlier winter.

There have been important strides taken within the seasons since, however the north Londoners are nonetheless with out that glinted prize that consolidates their declare as one among Europe’s best outfits of the age.

With Martin Odegaard sidelined, Arsenal have misplaced their inventive hub, and so should make sure that their frontline fires on all cylinders to mood the blow. There’s one struggling star who in all probability should not begin on the left flank.

Arteta should drop Gabriel Martinelli

What has occurred to Gabriel Martinelli? The Brazilian winger was as soon as mentioned to be “a expertise of the century” by former Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp, who hailed the “unimaginable striker” after a unprecedented 5-5 draw within the Carabao Cup in 2019, with the Reds successful on penalties.

Maybe this was considerably over-effusive reward, however it nonetheless highlighted the calibre of expertise that Arsenal had landed, bringing Martinelli over from Ituano in Brazil for a price of simply £6m when he was 18.

Martinelli, now 23, has clinched 41 targets and 23 assists throughout 179 matches for the Gunners, successful the FA Cup, however he has suffered fairly the nosedive since Arsenal elevated from top-four contenders to title challengers.

The fleet-footed winger has featured 5 instances for Arsenal this season however has but to attain or help a objective, hardly sparking again into life after final yr’s travails.

Certainly, the £180k-per-week expertise posted simply six targets and 4 assists throughout the whole thing of the 2023/24 Premier League marketing campaign, notably solely hitting the goal 0.6 instances per recreation on common.

He would possibly rank among the many high 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for progressive carries per 90 (5.58), as per FBref, however his finish product has abandoned him and this won’t do in opposition to Man Metropolis, who have to be put to the sword with pinpoint precision.

Leandro Trossard will really feel that his ball-striking college requires his inclusion within the beginning line-up, whereas summer time addition Raheem Sterling might be hoping to start out his first match of the season after that includes twice off the bench to this point.

The frontline, nonetheless, shouldn’t be the one space of the sector that have to be tinkered with. Rice returns however Odegaard stays unavailable – regardless of this, Thomas Partey have to be dropped.

Thomas Partey’s efficiency vs Atalanta

Partey had, to make use of the social media vernacular, a stinker in opposition to Atalanta within the Champions League. Writing in his post-match participant scores, the Night Normal’s Simon Collings branded the Ghanaian with a 4/10 rating, writing: ‘Gave away a penalty for a careless sort out. Struggled to essentially boss the sport and hooked earlier than the hour mark.’

Atalanta pack a punch in the midst of the park and this was keenly felt by the Premier League facet, who received simply 43% of the contested duels all through the 0-0 draw.

Partey failed to say his authority. Sure, it was his mistake that gave away the penalty which was expertly saved in double trend by the red-hot David Raya, however he did not impose himself on the Italians and was duly hooked early into the second half.

If Arsenal want to leapfrog Man Metropolis into pole place within the high flight, Partey needs to be dropped this afternoon.

Why Thomas Partey have to be benched vs Man Metropolis

Partey, aged 31, is within the closing yr of his Arsenal contract and is broadly anticipated to depart in June, with suitors from the Saudi Professional League circling.

He is good on the ball and bodily threatening however it’s clear that he sits someplace exterior of Arteta’s plans and will surely not be within the startling line-up if Odegaard and summer time signing Mikel Merino had been each match.

However they aren’t. Nevertheless, provided that Kai Havertz is prone to return to his deeper-lying position within the Norwegian’s absence, Rice needs to be partnered with Jorginho or certainly Havertz, with Gabriel Jesus reprising his position at quantity 9 and having fun with the flanking of the scientific Trossard and the celebrity Bukayo Saka on the suitable.

It is all about management and composure; this is not any previous opponent, up subsequent within the Premier League. Man Metropolis will pounce on any weaknesses displayed and Arteta must craft the right crew. Partey is finest left on the bench, and introduced on if want be.