The decision to take Thomas Partey out of midfield and deploy him at right-back proved costly as expected on Saturday and this game will be the chance for Mikel Arteta to do what he should’ve done at Brighton; play a defender (whether left-footed or not) at right-back instead of wasting Partey there.
Now, Timber is indeed back from suspension but considering the way everyone in the squad is dropping like flies to either injuries or illness, it would not be a bad idea to preserve the only natural right-back we have with three games in nine days coming up after this League Cup clash with Newcastle.
If you can play a right-footed player at left-back, then you can certainly play a left-footed player at right-back. Tomiyasu and Timber have been played at left-back several times by Arteta in the past, so how difficult is it to play either Califiori or Skelly at right-back at a time of need? Whatever the risk of playing them at right-back is, it is definitely not worse than the risk of missing Partey’s presence in midfield.
This would have been a game to start Martin Odegarard in but the Norwegian did look visibly ill on Saturday and there is no point risking him further to get another flat display. This is where the creativity/passing/vision that Zinchenko has shown when inverted into midfield could be put to good use. He is afterall an attacking midfielder when he features for Ukraine.
The front three has ‘we have no choice’ written all over it and since they are the only fit forwards available, Martinelli, Jesus and Trossard will have to start.
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