David Luiz, Arsenal (Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Teamwork makes the dream work for Arsenal.
Ever since Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal, has improved a multitude of their previous flaws. But none more so than the sense of togetherness at the club, both on and off the pitch. With that being said, here are the three on-field partnerships that strike me as being the most important.
3. Gabriel Magalhaes and David Luiz
The first partnership that will prove to be important is one in the heart of defence. We all know how good David Luiz can be on his day as we saw this in the FA Cup last season, however, he works best with a partner that plays into his qualities.
That’s why I think it’s great to see Arsenal signing his Brazilian counterpart, Gabriel. The centre-back ticked off his debut with a goal against Fulham and he will be looking to build on this, to secure himself a place in the starting XI alongside Luiz when he returns from his lengthy injury.
Gabriel and Luiz go hand-in-hand. Luiz is much better at bringing the ball out from the back as his passing is more often not on point. Gabriel, on the other hand, will be key to maintaining the defensive structure and always being in the right place at the right time to cover Luiz. If Arsenal persists with a back-three, then these two will be the first two names on the sheet.
David Luiz</a> can be on his day as we saw this in the FA Cup last season, however, he works best with a partner that plays into his qualities.</p>
<p>That’s why I think it’s great to see Arsenal signing his Brazilian counterpart, Gabriel. The centre-back ticked off his debut with a goal against Fulham and he will be looking to build on this, to secure himself a place in the starting XI alongside Luiz when he returns from his lengthy injury.</p>
<p>Gabriel and Luiz go hand-in-hand. Luiz is much better at bringing the ball out from the back as his passing is more often not on point. Gabriel, on the other hand, will be key to maintaining the defensive structure and always being in the right place at the right time to cover Luiz. If Arsenal persists with a back-three, then these two will be the first two names on the sheet.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-484559" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254867420-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos, Arsenal (Photo by Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos</h3>
<p>The most integral part to any team is how well the midfield gels. Luckily for Arsenal, they have a plethora of midfield talent so they can easily switch the partnership around as they please.</p>
<p>However, the duo that seems to work best for Mikel Arteta is that of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/Granit-Xhaka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22>Granit Xhaka</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c0617e2b/Dani-Ceballos?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22>Dani Ceballos</a>. This is why they were so set on signing Ceballos on another season-long loan because this might leave them in a better place to sign him permanently when the summer transfer window comes around.</p>
<p>Ceballos had to sit out of the opening Premier League matchday but this is not because Arteta is waiting to involve him, since he knows all about his exploits and what he brings to the side. That said, I have no doubt he will start against West Ham this weekend and continue to solidify his place in the XI alongside Xhaka.</p>
<p>The reason why this duo works so well and effortlessly is that they both strive to carry out different, but complementary tasks. While Ceballos likes to bring the ball forward and be more direct in his creative play, Xhaka prefers to dictate the tempo in the midfield and will often spread the play out wide if that’s what the rhythm of the game asks for.</p>
<p>The two have a great understanding of each other and a mutual appreciation of the game, shared by the former midfielder and now manager Arteta. That said, they make the perfect duo in Arsenal’s midfield.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-484556" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1228468292-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Willian, Arsenal (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Willian and Pierre-Emerick</h3>
<p>Now that Arsenal are growing in confidence that <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d5dd5f1f/Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</a> will put pen to paper, fans can, to an extent, relax and enjoy his season of goalscoring that is bound to unfold. The Gabon international is already off the mark as he scored an amazing team goal, which was assisted by none other than Willian.</p>
<p>Willian’s role in this Arsenal XI, while difficult to judge on just one game, seems to be to cut in centrally and provide service to the attackers. There was a multitude of times that the Brazilian was seen doing this against Fulham and I expect it will be a tale of the remainder of the season.</p>
<p>Certainly, Aubameyang will have no problem with this. If there’s anyone that can make the most of Willian’s immense creativity, then it’s the Gabon international. He will always be in the right place at the right time to pounce on Willian’s openings.</p>
<p>Of course, the fluidity and togetherness of the entire attacking line, including <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/a53649b7/Eddie-Nketiah?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eddie Nketiah</a>, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/9dbb75ca/Alexandre-Lacazette?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alexandre Lacazette</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/17/arsenal-3-key-partnerships-serve-arteta/"https://fbref.com/en/players/57e3f0c7/Nicolas-Pepe?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nicolas Pepe</a>, will be important. But to see Willian and Aubameyang already forming an understanding of each other, it’s refreshing to see. Long may it continue, Arsenal fans will think.</p>
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<p>Who do you think will be Arsenal’s most important player this season?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">