Arsenal picked up three points in their opening Premier League game in what was a fairly unremarkable 2-0 victory against Wolves, but it was a good start.
Mikel Arteta’s side were still trying to find their full rhythm after pre-season, and there was little expectation that they would be at their best in the first game of the campaign.
Arsenal won the game and kept a clean sheet, which was the most important thing as they aim to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.
New signing Riccardo Calafiori was an unused substitute, and he will have to wait before he is given the chance to make his debut.
Calafiori is the only signing Arsenal have made so far, but he is expected to be joined by Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino in the coming days.
Merino has been targeted to strengthen the midfield, and his arrival could mean one player drops to the bench.
Thomas Partey disappointed in Arsenal win against Wolves
Arteta selected Thomas Partey at the base of midfield, with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard as number eights against Wolves.
Although he had a few promising moments, Partey was disappointing overall. Despite his quality on the ball at times, he was almost caught in possession on several occasions after failing to recognise the danger around him, and this contributed to a poor Arsenal spell.
In the second half, both Partey and William Saliba failed to gain composure on the ball, and this allowed Wolves to trouble Arsenal on several alarming occasions.
Despite his quality over the years, Partey’s injury problems have proved an issue, and should Merino arrive, the Ghanian should be the midfielder to make way.
Mikel Merino should replace Thomas Partey in Arsenal midfield
Arsenal can build a well balanced midfield with Merino coming in as the left-sided number eight alongside Odegaard, with whom he played with at Real Sociedad.
This could see Rice drop back to a number six role, with Partey dropped to the bench. Merino could help get the best out of Gabriel Martinelli on the left, whilst pushing forward as an elite ball-winner and box-crashing midfielder himself.
Rice has excelled as a number eight, but is very capable at the base of midfield, and the pair may be more solid than Partey, given his failure to spot danger.
Should Partey find his best form before Merino arrives and settles in, then he will give Arteta a good selection headache, but right now his defensive awareness is proving an issue, which could end up inhibiting Arsenal’s title chances.
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