Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
We've had two midfielders under Arteta who could play through the lines- Partey and Jorginho. He has replaced them with Zubimendi and Merino.

I have no idea what Zubimendi is supposed to be doing. But he provides absolutely nothing other than sideways passes. It is not unusual to see him hopelessly out of position (where on earth was he for Bournemouth's winner?) and we have seen the odd slip in possession. Maybe that has made him scared to try anything.

Either way, I am watching a midfielder who seems to have no real range of passing. And we know that isn't him.

Two things always helped us in trying to play through a press- Odegaard always wanting the ball and showing for it, and those runs inside that Saka used to make. Both of those things have disappeared from our game over the last year and a bit.
Not convinced playing through the press is down to just 2 players, Peter. The 3 Sporting players that played through us are probably no more skilled then every player in our squad. The have to want to do it, they have to be trained to do it, they have to have to hesitation in doing it.

And that is Arteta's job imo.