Two ways Arsenal can replace Thomas Partey without splashing out on huge Moises Caicedo transfer amid injury fears

NO CAICEDO, no problem

As I write, it is reported that a third bid from Arsenal for Brighton’s Ecuadorian midfielder is being launched and the collective anxiety levels are through the roof with the Gunners’ fanbase.

GettyThomas Partey gave Arsenal a scare when he came off with a knock at Man City[/caption]

GettyThe Gunners are launching a third transfer bid for Moises Caicedo[/caption]

Since the initial concerns over Thomas Partey’s injury, which thankfully have now been allayed, I have been pondering internal solutions, on the worst case assumption, that we do not buy a midfielder before tomorrow night.

It seems obvious now that while Sambi Lokonga may well evolve into a true midfielder in time, he simply does not possess the game management and reading required to play as a sole 6 now.

The young Belgian is fine with the ball, but shows little without it and that on its own, rules him out as a Partey cover solution.

What seems strange, given the 2 failed bids for Douglas Luiz at the end of the last transfer window, is that Mikel Arteta and Edu had seemingly identified this as a squad weakness. Why then wait until the final week of this present window to bid for Caicedo?

We may never know the answer and we may yet further test Brighton’s resolve but what if we don’t and have left it too late to seek an alternative, given the unavailability of Elneny?

The first thing to bear in mind is that Thomas Partey is not injured and will play this weekend against Everton, so we are truly looking at worst case scenario contingency plans.

We have cover for Granit Xhaka but do we have internal options for an injury to our Ghanaian lynchpin? My belief is that we have 2 possible solutions.

Firstly, we know that Oleksandr Zinchenko captains Ukraine from the base of their midfield. Yes, international football is different to the Premier League, but we have seen our left back asked to become an additional midfielder in the way Arteta wants his team to play.

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Technically, the affable Ukrainian, is without doubt able to okay the sole 6 role. He reads danger well, is more than proficient at avoiding the press, can operate in tight spaces and has the ability to start attacks with his passing range.

If we were to move Zinchenko into a deep midfield role, we are fortunate to have a quality international left back, in Kieran Tierney to slot in at fullback.

The ever popular Scot would not let anybody down but has struggled to play the new role as Arteta has asked him. This being the case the team might have to slightly change their style, but Gabriel Martinelli’s workload would decrease with the return of his former overlapping pal.

If Arteta is set on playing the same way, and who could blame him as it is working so well, there is a second option that allows Zinchenko to stay at left back, supporting the midfield as he currently does.

The right back is not required to step into midfield and operate more conventionally, supporting and overlapping Bukayo Saka.

We are blessed on that flank to also have two high level exponents of the role and, as we saw against United, playing Takehiro Tomiyasu at right back is seamless, and does not weaken that flank.

Which of course presents us with our second realistic cover option for Partey, in Ben White, who we know has played the DM role at Leeds in the past. Today’s White, is a far superior model to the one who helped Leeds gain promotion and I have few doubts he could proficiently play at 6.

We have been stunned by his close control, intricate touches in evading challenges and his passing range, all evident during his successful transition from centre back to right back this campaign.

White will not be a Partey clone but his defensive awareness and understanding of what to do without the ball, would make his a far more compelling and mature option to Lokonga.

I have not mentioned our new polish addition as whilst I read he can play in midfield, to do so in a new league straight away would be a huge ask.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings but let’s not be all doom and gloom. We are still top of the toughest league in the world and we do have strong internal possibilities if the our worst fears do materialise.