After experiencing a strong run of form in 2020 while edging ever closer to securing a spot in next season's Champions League, Arsenal have encountered a degree of turbulence. The Gunners have lost three of their last four matches in the Premier League, and Mikel Arteta is now having to disrupt his go-to system due to injuries in the squad.
Kieran Tierney picked up a knock while on international duty recently and against Crystal Palace last week, Thomas Partey was substituted because of an issue with his thigh. Arteta played Albert Sambi Lokonga in Partey's place against Brighton on Saturday afternoon, but the Gunners lost by two goals to one despite the Seagulls last victory coming in mid-February.
Sambi Lokonga is different to the man who he's replaced in the team. The Belgian is a big prospect and he's certainly capable of contributing in a positive manner, but Partey offers specific tactical perks and Arteta was harnessing them.
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Partey is relatively unique in the sense that he's capable of operating as a holding player who can almost cover the ground of two men. The Ghanaian can manage wide open spaces on the defensive side of the game, and that has an impact on how Arsenal attack.
As a result of his skill set, Arteta can encourage more players to get forward with the awareness that Partey can cope without much support. In recent weeks, Granit Xhaka has been joining moves in the final third with Partey holding the fort in deeper areas.
An example is pictured below. Arsenal committed players forward against Watford and Partey remained as the team's holding presence, despite being surrounded by a number of opponents.
Fernandinho wasn't too dissimilar at his prime. He was originally a box-to-box player, but Pep Guardiola harvested his mobility and it allowed the Manchester City boss to commit more players forward.
Once Rodri began to replace him at the Etihad, Guardiola's outfit encountered some teething problems as a consequence of the difference between the Spanish midfielder and Fernandinho, forcing a tactical change upon the Manchester side.
Rodri is now operating as a lone holding player for Guardiola, but it took him some time to get to grips with the role and he spent his whole first season at the club as part of a midfield two.
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi is another who fits the mould of a holding player who is mobile enough to be left alone in open spaces, and the same largely applies to West Ham United's Declan Rice.
Rodri and Liverpool's Fabinho, on the other hand, require more support around them because they aren't quite as mobile.
Upon inspection of Sambi Lokonga's skill set, it is reasonable to suggest that despite his physical ability to get around the pitch, he isn't quite on Partey's level when it comes to defensive work and managing open spaces single-handedly.
If Arteta is going to persist with Sambi Lokonga in Partey's place, he might have to adjust his system to ensure the 22 year-old has more cover to guard against potential counter-attacks.
