Arsenal transfer news as Gunners boss Mikel Arteta asks supporters to be patient with his newly-formed midfield three following the 2-0 pre-season loss to Man United.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has urged supporters to give Declan Rice time to settle into the side following the Gunners 2-0 friєɴԀly loss to Manchester United on Saturday.
The Red Devils were victorious at the MetLife Stadium thanks to first-half strikes from Bruno Fernandes and Jason Sancho. Arteta’s side struggled to lay a punch on their Premier League rivals in the United States in a fɾυȿτɾɑting evening.
After back-to-back draws with Watford and FC Nurnberg earlier this month,Arsenalearned their first win of their 2023/24 ρɾєρɑɾɑtions on Thursday morning with a 5-0 thumping of the MLS All-Stars.
The game against United was the first opportunity presented to supporters to see all new signings – Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice – in action for the first time since their move. However, the Gunners struggled to gel in the opening 45 minutes.
Captain Martin Odegaard joinedRiceand Havertz in a midfield three, but were outnumbered on a number of occasions by United and the trio only lasted 59 minutes. Thomas Partey, who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, replaced Rice as the midfield anchor.
And despite the failed first trial of the trio, Arteta has hinted that he will continue to stick with his vision and asked supporters to give the England international time to settle in. He said: “When they play 55 times together, it will be better, it will flow better, they will understand each other better and we will be more dominant. But things take time to glide and we have to respect that.”
Rice’s £105million price-tag comes with big expectations. The midfielder has showcased his capabilities to play at the very top in recent years and will slot into Arsenal’s squad knowing all eyes will be on him.
The midfield trio of Rice, Odegaard and Havertz will, however, take some time. Naturally more offensive-minded, Odegaard and Havertz will have to adapt their games to ensure less space is left open in the transitions, though the Norwegian did drop deeper than usual against United.
Time will tell whether the same midfield three that started in New Jersey will be the same that starts against Nottingham Forest in the Gunners’ first Premier League game of the season.
