Mikel Arteta will be eager to see improvement from one area of the Arsenal squad ahead of facing Manchester City.
If it weren’t for Gabriel Martinelli, there’s a good chance Arsenal wouldn’t have beaten Athletic Club on night one of the Champions League.
Against the odds, the Brazilian entered the field of play and immediately made an impact, scoring and assisting to see Arsenal beat Athletic Club 2-0.
It was a victory that showcased the squad depth Arteta has available to him, but there is an issue in his starting XI that needs to be fixed.
Spain’s media noticed Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi’s struggles vs Athletic Club
It wasn’t only Arteta’s squad selection against Bilbao that generated attention, but also how two of his star players performed on the night.
Spanish media drew attention to how Arsenal struggled to keep possession, noting that even Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi weren’t able to influence things.
That’s the viewpoint of Mundo Deportivo journalist Carlos Zaballa, who commented on Arsenal’s midfield pivot.
“Mikel Arteta’s team struggled to keep the ball out of play despite having two specialists in this area in Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.”
Zubimendi was the hero against Nottingham Forest, but upon being partnered with Rice again, the Spaniard’s standards slipped ever so slightly.
It’s an interesting narrative given that the missing chemistry between Zubimendi and Rice has been noticed before.
Even the best players need time to adapt, with the summer signing and his English counterpart still learning how each other operate.
Midfield battle is key against Manchester City
Being only five games into the season, Arsenal won’t be concerned about their newly formed midfield pairing.
That being said, attention is needed before Manchester City’s visit to the Emirates, given how much emphasis will be on the central zones.
Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden heavily influenced City’s win over Manchester United last time out in the Premier League, with the trio set to be a focal point of Pep Guardiola’s preparation ahead of facing Arsenal.
There is, for that reason, little room for error in midfield when City arrive at the Emirates, giving Zubimendi and Rice a real test to strike a perfect balance.
Control will be what both Guardiola and Arteta strive for when the two sides meet in North London on matchday five of the Premier League season, something that will be decided in midfield.
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