30/09/2025
An Open Letter from an Anonymous Arsenal Fan to Mikel Arteta
Dear Mikel,
I write not as a critic but as a loyal Gunner who has watched, cheered, and agonised with millions of others every week. We’ve seen your project transform Arsenal’s mentality, discipline and identity. We’re behind you.
But after St. James’ Park, one thing stood out like North London sunshine: Declan Rice – Martin Ødegaard – Eberechi Eze must start together in midfield.
Here’s why:
Declan Rice – the anchor and the shield. His tackling, interceptions and relentless tracking back give us security when transitions break down.
Martin Ødegaard – the surgical passer and counter-presser. He knits phases, presses intelligently, wins second balls and breaks defensive lines with vision.
Eberechi Eze – the wild card. He brings what we’ve lacked since peak Cazorla: long carries under pressure, sudden bursts, and long balls into space. Eze mesmerises defenders, forces two men on him, and buys time for overlapping fullbacks.
Together they solve each other’s weaknesses. Rice covers Eze’s defensive gaps. Ødegaard complements Rice’s ball recovery with quick vertical passes. Eze stretches low blocks and creates room for Saka, Martinelli, and Jesus to run into.
We saw flashes of this at St. James’ Park – those five minutes where Arsenal pinned Newcastle back with fluid rotations, quick recoveries and progressive runs. Imagine that for 90 minutes.
Tactical Advantages:
3-2-5 build up morphing into 2-3-5 with Rice dropping between CBs, Ødegaard pressing high, Eze floating between lines.
Eze’s ability to switch play with long diagonals stops teams from overloading Saka’s flank.
Ødegaard’s defensive work means we don’t lose control when Eze drifts forward.
This trio naturally feeds Gyokeres Saka or Trossard/ Martinelli while creating the second-wave shots for our inverted fullbacks.(Timber/White or Calafiori/MLS
Arsenal have always been at their best when midfield imagination meets midfield industry like in the Arsenal Wenger Hay Days . This combination is not just attractive football – it’s winning football.
We love you, Mikel. We love this club. But please, give the Rice-Ødegaard-Eze trio a consistent run. Let the Emirates witness the full potential of the midfield that could deliver our first title in two decades.
Forever a Gunner,
