Mikel Arteta may be about to unleash a new partnership that could rival William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as Arsenal’s most important duo.
Saliba and Gabriel have built an exceptional on-field relationship in the last few seasons, with this partnership the foundation of the Gunners’ outstanding defensive structure.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka and Ben White combine effectively on Arsenal’s right-hand side, and the former also dovetails nicely with Martin Odegaard.
However, after signing eight players this summer, Arteta has the potential to unearth a new dynamic combination which will elevate the level of Arsenal’s attack and lead them to the Premier League title.
Eberechi Eze and Piero Hincapie could form a frightening partnership
Arsenal have been too reliant on their right-hand side in recent seasons.
White, Saka and Odegaard’s combinations have been key to the Gunners unlocking low blocks, and they subsequently struggled against sides that took this approach last season, when one or two of these three were unavailable due to injury.
Andrea Berta and Arteta clearly tried to address this issue by strengthening the left-hand side of Arsenal’s squad this summer.
Eberechi Eze arrived from Crystal Palace in a £67.5 million deal, while Piero Hincapie was signed from Bayer Leverkusen on loan on deadline day.
Eze is expected to be deployed on the left wing for the Gunners, with this being the role he was used in off the bench against Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Hincapie is likely to be used as a left-back, and the pair of new signings could be perfectly suited to playing alongside each other.
The Ecuadorian is quick and powerful, whilst being very adept at marauding down the touchline and providing overlapping runs.
With Eze inclined to come inside and create, the runs from Hincapie on the outside of the Englishman could see the two players combine effectively to create overloads on the left of the Gunners’ attack.
All of a sudden, Arsenal might have a functional left-hand side which can break down low blocks and take attention away from the right of their attack.
This could be the change which propels Arteta’s team to the Premier League title.
Arsenal will be unstoppable with White, Odegaard, Saka, Eze and Hincapie in one team
With this new set-up on the left implemented, and the equally dangerous and dynamic combinations on the right in place, Arsenal have the potential to become an unstoppable attacking unit.
At their best, White’s overlapping runs, in conjunction with Saka and Odegaard’s synchronised patterns, make the Gunners extremely difficult to stop down the right.
Add Eze and Hincapie terrorising the left-hand side of teams with their fluid interchange of positions and ability to tear through teams with running and dribbling, and it’s a recipe for success.
Arteta may not want all of these players on the pitch at the same time against teams with more attacking threat who won’t simply sit deep.
However, against sides who bunker in their own defensive third and cede possession, this could be the solution.
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