Champions League: No Partey, No Issue? How Arteta Can Shape Midfield Without Him vs. PSG
With Arsenal to face Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial UEFA Champions League elimination tie, much of the pre-match debate is focused on the unavailability of Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian midfielder has been a central pillar of Mikel Arteta's tactical setup, offering control, brawn, and defensive solidity. Though, of course, once more, injury will keep him out, leaving the Gunners to look elsewhere in the mid-game motor compartment. And thus the question remains: can Arsenal manage without Partey against such a team of PSG's standing?
Partey's Role and Why It Matters
Partey's leadership in midfield is not easy to overstate. He organizes the shape of the team, often controlling tempo and also being the first line of defense against counter-attacks. His range of passing allows for swift transitions by Arsenal, and breaking up the press by him is extremely crucial in the European competition as well, since the tempo and tactical oscillation are higher in relation to the Premier League.
Without him, Arsenal lack a reliable outlet when under pressure and a natural cover for the defense. Against PSG's attack spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, Arteta will have to walk a fine line between providing defensive solidity and supporting the attack.
Rice at the Base: A Natural Shift
Declan Rice will most likely be burdened with the anchor role when Partey is not available. Since arriving from West Ham, Rice has demonstrated that he can do deep-lying midfield duties with ease. He offers physicality, decent ball-winning ability, and positional awareness.
But Rice's strengths are different from Partey's. While he brings more verticality and forward surges, his passing under pressure and ball build-up—though sufficient—are less refined. Arteta can modify the system to some extent to accommodate Rice's game, perhaps implementing a more collective build-up instead of relying on a lone deep-lying conductor.
Who Pairs Rice?
From that base down by Rice, it's all about who gets to start the two middle positions—in case Arteta sticks with his go-to 4-3-3. Martin Ødegaard gets the advanced spot for sure. The Norwegian brings creativity, high-pressing pace, and the capability to dictate terms in the attacking third. Which one of those positions is left up for grabs is.
Jorginho is an obvious selection. His European football background, calmness under pressure, and metronomic passing skill make him a bargain in setting the tempo. But alongside Rice, they may be potentially building redundancy in deeper roles and leaving the side lacking athleticism.
Or else, Arteta could resort to Kai Havertz in midfield, whose body and line-breaking runs with it create a contrast. Havertz has emerged as a more formidable box-to-box player, and his inclusion would signify a more attacking, front-foot approach—adventurous, but promising.
Tactical Flexibility and Zinchenko's Role
Another wildcard candidate is Oleksandr Zinchenko. While mostly used as a left-back, Zinchenko tends to invert into midfield in possession moments. In Partey's absence, Arteta may rely more on Zinchenko's technical ability to assist in overloading central zones and support ball movement.
This would require a more defensively secure left-sided centre-back or full-back—maybe Jakub Kiwior or Takehiro Tomiyasu—to deal with transitions when Zinchenko invades.
Final Thoughts
Thomas Partey's absence is a blow, particularly against a team as potent as PSG. But Arteta has stocked his team with depth and flexibility. Declan Rice will be the focal point, and the choice between Jorginho, Havertz, and even Zinchenko in hybrid roles will decide Arsenal's midfield personality on the night.
"No Partey, no problem" may sound a bit overly optimistic—but with the right balance and application, Arteta's Arsenal can rise to the task. The midfield can be revamped, but the objective remains: control the match, strangle PSG's firepower, and make a giant stride towards Champions League glory.
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