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It's just so ridiculous that Arsenal finished that match with a back line of Partey, White, Kiwior and MLS.
That's the 3rd or 4th choice RB, probably 3rd choice RCB, 2nd choice LCB and maybe 7th choice LB.
LB is the really ridiculous one. Probably Calafiori is #1, Zinchenko might be #2, unless maybe it's Timber now. Tomiyasu is after that at #4, Kiwior is another option. And, if he were ever fit, there's Tierney. I guess Zinchenko is technically available now, but he hasn't trained much, so with all those injuries it was MLS who got picked. He did pretty well, but it's just kind of ridiculous how few options there are at left back right now.
IMO it was that terrible back line that allowed Liverpool to equalize. It wasn't that the defenders played too badly, but White and Merino had to play really deep to provide cover for them, and Martinelli was helping MLS, which allowed Liverpool to come forward and put on the pressure.
Last season Saliba started every game. Gabriel started 34 matches. White started 32. The only iffy position was on the left.
This season has barely started and already it's a makeshift back line with everyone playing out of position.
Yeah, it's been such a disruptive season. The injuries have been bad enough, then throw in those 3 red cards. It feels like the players haven't been able to settle and build partnerships.
Look at Saka and White. Played together pretty much every game for the past 1-2 seasons. We've had an inconsistent and unconvincing run of games with both players in and out. Both are finally available to play in the same match and that partnership gives us an important lead in an important fixture.
Hard not to look at that as an example of why we look like we've struggled. Amongst some other reasons of course.
If someone looks back at statistics in 5 years and sees that White assisted Saka for a goal in this fixture, they'll probably say "Of course, White assisting Saka was normal" and won't realize that it was White playing as a CB spotting Saka's run from deep and playing a ball for him over the top. It's great that that partnership exists even when White and Saka aren't playing near each-other.
But yeah, Partey was shaky as a right back, especially defensively, and he and Saka seemed to have almost no connection.
But it's that left back issue that IMO shows just how injury ravaged Arsenal has been.
- Calafiori - Injured
- Zinchenko - Just returning from an injury, not available to start
- Timber - Injured
- Tomiyasu - Injured
- Tierney - Injured
- Kiwior - Playing elsewhere
- Miles Lewis-Skelly - Here's your shot!
And it's not even like MLS is a left back who finally got his shot. He's mainly a midfielder, so he's also playing out position. It's great that he's being picked, I love seeing youth players getting their chances, and not just in meaningless league cup games. I just wish it wasn't because more than half the defenders at the club are injured.
Tbf, I think MLS has been playing a left-back for like, well over a year now?
Exclusively? Or he's made appearances there along with other positions? I haven't seen anything that suggests that he isn't still primarily a central / defensive midfielder.
I mean, he's only played LB for the senior team. Not sure tbf about whether he's played in midfield but I definitely remember seeing talk about him playing LB even for academy teams already.