If there is one department in the Arsenal first-team squad with the most depth when everyone is fit and available for selection, it's certainly central midfield - particularly the 'left 8' role.
Of course, this is a position that Granit Xhaka excelled in last season and there's an argument he's not been adequately replaced following his £21.5million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer window as the jury is still out on Kai Havertz after an underwhelming start to life in north London after making the switch from Chelsea.
Having said that, Mikel Arteta hasn't been afraid to drop his £65million signing or haul him off early in games. For example, the Germany international was a substitute against Manchester City and at Stamford Bridge as Declan Rice was deployed slightly higher with Jorginho offering extra defensive protection.
Whilst Arsenal's record signing can operate as the 'left 8', by his own admission he feels more comfortable as the defensive midfielder and with captain Martin Odegaard effectively an automatic starter as the right-sided '8' this leaves one spot up for grabs in Arteta's best possible line-up.
If the 'left 8' role is earmarked for a natural left-footer then Fabio Vieira is the alternative to Havertz and the playmaker provided game-changing contributions as a substitute against both Fulham and Manchester United earlier in the season to stake a claim for regular starts.
Interestingly his selection in the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur in September did seem to indicate he was the first-choice option but he's not started a Premier League game since and is now set for a three-match lay-off after being sent-off against Burnley last weekend.
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"The best position for Emile is in those pockets," Arteta said earlier in the season thus confirming he sees Smith Rowe as a central midfielder. "It is not to play as a pure winger. I think it suits him, I think the relationships will suit him. Now he needs the minutes and he needs to prove that he can do what he can do."
The Hale End graduate has had a torrid time with injuries over the past 18 months and is currently sidelined after sustaining a knee injury in the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last month - a game where ironically he was operating as the left-sided '8' alongside Havertz.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been tipped to move into central midfield - a role he plays for the Ukraine national team - but he may not make the transition at Arsenal until Jurrien Timber is fully fit to provide extra depth at left-back, but another option in the 'left 8' is Leandro Trossard.
The Belgium international has 19 direct goal contributions (seven goals and 12 assists) across all competitions since joining Arsenal from Brighton and Hove Albion last January, but he's often used out wide or through the middle, which recently, has been to great success.
However, Trossard has thrown his hat into the ring with regard to a midfield role: "That’s a tough question," he told the club's official website when asked which position he feels more comfortable in. "I don’t really mind playing all of those positions up top, to be fair. If it’s left winger, as a false nine, even as an attacking midfielder, I don’t really have a straight answer for that.
"[As a kid I played] as a number ten, like a proper attacking midfielder back in the old days, or as a striker as well. I always try to be in the box and in good positions to score goals and with the quality that we have, I know I have to be there, especially if I play on the left wing, I need to be there when, for example, Bukayo Saka is on the ball on the right side, so yeah I follow my instinct there, to be honest, to get in the right positions to score goals."
Whether Trossard is being considered for a midfield role remains to be seen as he is performing well as the centre forward at the moment but Arteta will certainly have a nice selection headache once all his options are fully fit and available for selection.
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