Redden London, Arsenal's Midfield Trio Has Arrived!

”Very happy with this win, with so many chances and goals we created. We also recorded another clean sheet which shows the consistency of this team. This is a big London derby. We know what this victory means for the fans,” said Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta.

After the long whistle, the whole stadium burst into chants for striker Kai Havertz. The spotlight was on Havertz who scored two goals at once against his former team. He doesn't hesitate to celebrate. During his three seasons at Chelsea, he was always doubted as a spearhead who could score lots of goals.

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Regardless of Havertz's proof, Arsenal was able to win decisively thanks to their strength in the midfield. They lost possession of the ball by 44.5 percent, but were able to have an absolute lead in the number of shots, 27-7. Partey and his colleagues were more focused on creating as many opportunities as possible rather than lingering with the ball.

The composition of the home team's midfield trio is very interesting. Partey, Rice, and Odegaard returned as starters together for the first time since they faced Fulham in late August 2023. After that, Partey had to take a break due to multiple injuries. They have only played together three times in the early season, and even then, Partey was placed on the wing-back position.

The best potential of Si Meriam's midfield is clearly shining through. Partey's role as an anchor midfielder brings more freedom for Rice and Odegaard. These two players can focus more on creating plays in the opponent's third of the field without worrying about the construction of attacks from the backline.

Very happy with this win. We created so many opportunities and goals.

"We thought it was a very good match for Thomas to return (as a starter). He seemed to be in the right rhythm. He answered the call and immediately made an impact for the team. We are pleased with how (the midfield trio) can control the game very well, especially in attacking," said Arteta.

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Odegaard is like a bird that has been freed from its cage. In addition to contributing two assists, the creative midfielder also created eight opportunities from open play for his teammates. According to Opta, that number of creations is the highest for an Arsenal player since Mesut Ozil (8) versus Everton in October 2017.

Rice also really enjoys his role as a box to box midfielder. He penetrated repeatedly on the opponent's right side, combining with wing striker Leandro Trossard. He completely left defensive duties to Partey. Meanwhile, Rice contributed one assist for Trossard's opening goal in the 4th minute.

Partey can bridge attacks because he has excellent qualities in contributing to the ball. He can break through opponent's pressure through dribbling or progressive passes. Players in the final third just need to find positions to receive the pass. As for Partey, he was the brain behind the first and fourth goals for Arsenal.

The most notable change is the well-diversified Arsenal attack. Without Partey, the foundation of Arsenal's attack will rely on the right side filled by Odegaard and winger Bukayo Saka. With Partey, the attack starts from the center. They are more difficult to predict as they can attack from the left and right.

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Last season, Partey was almost irreplaceable in Arsenal's squad. The 30-year-old player supported the team in the pursuit of the championship. However, this dependence was reduced with the purchase of Rice in the summer. With Partey now starting to recover and in his best form, Arsenal will benefit in the remaining four matches.

Bitter night for Chelsea

Chelsea couldn't do much throughout the match. They really lost their mainstay wing striker Cole Palmer. The current top scorer in the Premier League suffered an injury after the FA Cup semi-final versus Manchester City last weekend. On the same side, full-back Malo Gusto was also forced to miss out.

As a result, the right side of "The Blue", which is the main weapon this season, was unable to say much. The team coached by Manager Mauricio Pochettino relies more on the speed of the attackers, such as Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke. However, the visitors were less effective in the finishing touch.

"It is not difficult to explain (the defeat). Everyone can see that we did not compete as we should have from the beginning. After conceding a goal early on, we were so weak. We should have started with better energy. We lacked aggressiveness and concentration in easy situations. That's what disappoints me," said Pochettino.

The result of the derby can reflect the condition of both teams this season. Arsenal is still on top of the standings with 77 points, while Chelsea is stuck at 9th place (47 points). The five-goal difference at Emirates Stadium and 30 points in the standings are enough to show that London is painted red. (AP/REUTERS)