Arsenal vs Villarreal: Emile Smith Rowe as an improved Dani Ceballos alongside Thomas Partey in midfield for Europa League semi-final. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
There will be no Dani Ceballos against Villarreal on Thursday. It’s something that, based on his first leg display and many before that, might be one of the few reassuring aspects for Arsenal as they look to overturn their 2-1 Europa League first leg deficit.
A solution to this ‘problem’ could be rectified by shifting Granit Xhaka back into midfield. Simple in terms of personnel, simple in execution. Mikel Arteta doesn’t often deal in the obvious.
Moving Xhaka to that position wasn’t the standardised alternative in the first place, one he maneuvered around cleverly but has yet to let go of.
Another move would be to partner Thomas Partey with Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian is the only other central midfield option, played well against Newcastle and is brimming with confidence. Again, simple.
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Arsenal vs Villarreal: Emile Smith Rowe as an improved Dani Ceballos alongside Thomas Partey in midfield for Europa League semi-final
But all of that works on the basis that this is a flat 4-2-3-1 system, which it isn’t. More closely resembling Johan Cruyff’s 3-4-3 diamond or a 3-3-4, it tasks the midfielder alongside Partey with drifting into a left wing-back slot to accommodate Xhaka’s sluggishness and grant the Swiss time on the ball to progress possession.
It also bestows the role of the midfielder with acting as a wandering No. 8, picking up slots in the left half-space as well as shoring up central areas when out of possession. It’s a hefty workload, one that relies on an understanding of space and threat at all times.
Ceballos has no spatial awareness. He can’t sense incoming danger, nor can he act upon it. What he does offer, however, is better discipline when the ball is in front of him and there isn’t much space between Arsenal’s lines: only Partey (fbref) has registered more tackles and interceptions than him in all competitions per 90 minutes, with the pair occupying the same positions when it comes to ball recoveries.
Elneny coming into that slot would constitute an entirely differing attacking approach, since he can’t cover ground in wide areas and isn’t technically secure enough to be building triangles in any space, let alone half-spaces. It wouldn’t work, ever.
Should Arteta revert to 4-2-3-1, then this issue wouldn’t arise: Xhaka would move alongside Partey with either Saka or Cedric at left-back. Problem solved, in theory. However, little suggests that will occur based on Arteta’s decisions, so someone else needs to fulfill that role.
Who? Emile Smith Rowe.
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<h2>Arsenal vs Villarreal: Emile Smith Rowe as an improved Dani Ceballos alongside Thomas Partey in midfield for Europa League semi-final</h2>
<p>But all of that works on the basis that this is a flat 4-2-3-1 system, which it isn’t. More closely resembling Johan Cruyff’s 3-4-3 diamond or a 3-3-4, it tasks the midfielder alongside Partey with drifting into a left wing-back slot to accommodate Xhaka’s sluggishness and grant the Swiss time on the ball to progress possession.</p>
<p>It also bestows the role of the midfielder with acting as a wandering No. 8, picking up slots in the left half-space as well as shoring up central areas when out of possession. It’s a hefty workload, one that relies on an understanding of space and threat at all times.</p>
<p>Ceballos has no spatial awareness. He can’t sense incoming danger, nor can he act upon it. What he does offer, however, is better discipline when the ball is in front of him and there isn’t much space between Arsenal’s lines: only Partey (<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/squads/18bb7c10/2020-2021/all_comps/Arsenal-Stats-All-Competitions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fbref</a>) has registered more tackles and interceptions than him in all competitions per 90 minutes, with the pair occupying the same positions when it comes to ball recoveries.</p>
<p>Elneny coming into that slot would constitute an entirely differing attacking approach, since he can’t cover ground in wide areas and isn’t technically secure enough to be building triangles in any space, let alone half-spaces. It wouldn’t work, ever.</p>
<p>Should Arteta revert to 4-2-3-1, then this issue wouldn’t arise: Xhaka would move alongside Partey with either Saka or Cedric at left-back. Problem solved, in theory. However, little suggests that will occur based on Arteta’s decisions, so someone else needs to fulfill that role.</p>
<p>Who? <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/04/16/arsenal-lucky-smith-rowe-slavia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emile Smith Rowe</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Smith Rowe would work replacing Ceballos </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-115063" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1307047141-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 14: Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Emile Smith Rowe Can Fulfill the Role of Thomas Partey’s Partner</h2>
<p>Arteta got it horribly wrong in the first leg. It was asking too much of the players he selected to perform roles they’d previously been unfamiliar with. Most notably, Smith Rowe.</p>
<p>Operating as the centre-forward/false nine, the rest of the team weren’t in overly unusual positions: Pepe on the left, Saka on the right <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-partey-disappointing-destructive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and Partey as the single pivot</a>. Yet the whole balance of the side was thrown off, with the pressing from the front uncoordinated and the gaps between the lines too welcoming for Villarreal to play into.</p>
<p>Ceballos’ role in that wasn’t carried out well, with the Spaniard getting caught out of position numerous times, unsure of his defensive duties in wide areas and not knowing which spaces to occupy.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1387843229559791620</p>
<p>Asking Smith Rowe to assume this role would, again, be altering the system to a perhaps too varied degree. However, he has operated in deeper roles previously and drifting into the wide left berths has become an effective trait of his – so much so he’s regularly featured on the left wing this season.</p>
<p>What it would do is compromise central stability, since Smith Rowe is not a physically strong operator. Ceballos isn’t either, but his defensive stats in that area are more encouraging than most.</p>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/04/arsenal-vs-villarreal-unai-emery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arsenal have to score, though</a>. One goal may not be enough as the nervousness that permeates the Emirates air doesn’t bode well for their hopes of keeping a clean sheet. The 20-year-old is an excellent counter-pressing option – usually higher up the pitch, admittedly – and works hard tracking back, so there is scope for his inclusion there.</p>
<p>When Martin Odegaard signed one of the midfield dynamics that opened up was the potential of two No. 8’s either side of Partey as the single pivot. It was utilised briefly away at Aston Villa where Smith Rowe had the Norwegian to his right and Partey at the bottom of the ‘V’ shape.</p>
<p>In terms of balance, ensuring both Odegaard and Smith Rowe are on the same page is essential to this ploy working, with who moves up when the other drops off, although that responsibility may fall primarily on the Ghanaian’s shoulders.</p>
<p>It’s attacking and risky, placing so much emphasis on Partey dominating that area of the park as he has done previously, but allows Odegaard and Smith Rowe to receive the ball in tight spaces and evade the sluggish midfield duo of Dani Parjeo and Francis Coquelin, who are expected to start.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Other alternatives + too much to ask of ESR? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-115064" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1232595986-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Martin Odegaard" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">CASTELLON, SPAIN – APRIL 29: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal, Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Arsenal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on April 29, 2021 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Can Arsenal Afford to Ask More of Emile Smith Rowe?</h2>
<p>Someone who has played on the left side of a midfield three is Bukayo Saka, a player <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://theathletic.com/2564969/2021/05/05/why-arsenal-might-just-play-saka-in-central-midfield-against-villarreal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic’s James McNicholas</a> lists as the ideal choice for this role. It makes absolute sense given his versatility and added experience playing there under Arteta already, yet the standout issue is losing his presence in the forward line.</p>
<p>That would result in a front three of Gabriel Martinelli, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe, a fierce trio but one centred solely on getting in behind. Naturally, with two creators behind them it plays into their strengths, but Saka’s importance in that area of the pitch can’t be understated. He is a middle man in many ways, both a key linking alternative and a runner in behind. It absolutely could work, though, and is another solid option.</p>
<p>Best of all, as is almost universally agreed, is getting Xhaka back into midfield. Arsenal lacked physicality and someone to win duels in that area in the first leg, traits neither Smith Rowe nor Saka would immediately add. Unless Arteta springs a surprise, it doesn’t seem as if that will happen.</p>
<p>How much is too much to ask of Smith Rowe? He’s performed elements of the ‘Ceballos role’ – a <em>horrible</em> term to use – during his younger days as well as lining up as a No. 10 or left-winger, but not all at once and not when his side are behind on aggregate in a European semi-final.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Let's talk about Partey" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-partey-disappointing-destructive/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-villarreal-smith-rowe-partey/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/05/arsenal-partey-disappointing-destructive/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Let's talk about Partey </a> </div>
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<p>It’s a big burden to bear, but one that Arteta’s unwillingness to deviate from his current form suggests may be the most viable solution.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
