I saw Arteta do something for the first time at Arsenal in 3-0 win vs Monaco & he may keep doing it (opinion)

Yesterday at 05:26 PM

Arsenal sealed a fourth win from six UEFA Champions League outings on Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over Monaco.

A double from Bukayo Saka and a poacher’s effort from Kai Havertz moved the Gunners up to third in the UEFA Champions League, behind only Liverpool and Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta handed Myles Lewis-Skelly a start for the first time in the competition, with the 18-year-old impressing up against the French giants, notably playing a key role in Saka’s opener.

While that was a first for the Spaniard, he also did something else for the first time at Arsenal in fielding Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard together, which we feel he may keep doing.

Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino clicked for Arsenal

Arsenal fans might have to get used to seeing Rice, Merino and Odegaard alongside each other in midfield – not that it would be a bad thing whatsoever.

The England international, Spain international and Norway international provided a lovely balance to Arsenal’s midfield against Monaco – who sit third in Ligue 1 – combining for the Gunners to register eight shots before the interval.

Arsenal really ought to have been 3-0 up by half-time, but squandered a number of opportunities.

Nevertheless, the newly deployed midfield trio limited Monaco to just two shots in the first half with their excellent ball retention, keeping possession tidily and ultimately helping Arsenal record 54.6% of the play.

Stylistically, Merino playing on the left, as a left footed midfielder, seemed to enable Gabriel Martinelli to get more involved in the game, as passes could be slid into the Brazilian.

The Arsenal No.11 was one player guilty of squandering a good chance, but ought to have provided an assist in the second half after a fine ball down the line from the Spaniard put him in.

Arteta, who Adi Hutter called “superb” before the game, eventually took Rice off in the 64th minute in place of Jorginho, and Odegaard for Ethan Nwaneri in the 79th minute, but after that display, it wouldn’t surprise us if that was a move designed to keep them fresh for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Everton.

Mikel Arteta has plenty of options

Arteta seems to want a new winger with Arsenal linked to Nico Williams on a regular basis, but the 42-year-old must be very pleased with his central midfield department.

Not only can the man from San Sebastian call upon the trio of Merino, Rice and Odegaard, but he also has other midfield options in Jorginho and Thomas Partey, while Havertz is also capable of dropping into the No.8 role, an area Lewis-Skelly seems very comfortable in too.

In that right-sided No.8 position, Nwaneri has proven to be an exciting deputy to Odegaard as well.

Needless to say, Arsenal’s central midfield department looks very healthy indeed.