“We losing”, “Never a good idea” - Arsenal fans annoyed as Mikel Arteta names midfielder as full-back in line-up vs Southampton

Arsenal are set to face Southampton on Saturday, October 5, fully aware of the opportunity to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League. However, Gunners supporters have expressed their frustration with Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, particularly the decision to start Thomas Partey at right-back.

Currently, Arsenal sit third in the table, just four points behind Liverpool (with a game in hand), and level on points with second-placed Manchester City, who will face Fulham on the same day. The Gunners are on a three-game winning streak across all competitions, the most recent being a victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League.

Arteta has made some surprising choices in his lineup. Jurrien Timber was not even included on the bench, with Thomas Partey unexpectedly filling in at right-back. Jorginho started in midfield alongside both Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, while Raheem Sterling made his first Premier League start, replacing Gabriel Martinelli.

The frequent rotations are likely due to the unforgiving schedule, with matches every three days. However, fans were particularly shocked by the decision to play Partey out of position as a full-back, a move that hasn’t worked well in the past.

Here are some reactions from the social media platform X:

“THOMAS PARTEY RIGHT BACK?” one fan exclaimed.

“Really not keen on Partey at RB or Havertz in midfield, but let’s see how it goes,” another fan said.

"Partey RB, we losing," a fan added.

"Thomas Partey at RB is never a good idea," another fan commented.

"Arteta said it yesterday that Thomas Partey is RIGHT back to his form and physique," a supporter said.

Arsenal fans also voiced their concerns, feeling that Arteta may be underestimating Southampton. Here are more reactions:

“Partey at right back—it’s gonna be a long day,” a fan added.

Despite the confusion over the rotations, Arsenal still have a strong bench, with Arteta able to call on players like Leandro Trossard, Martinelli, and Ethan Nwaneri if needed. He also has Mikel Merino available, who has returned from injury.

Mikel Arteta expects a tough test against Southampton

Southampton have had a dreadful start to the season, as they currently sit 19th in the table with just one point. Head coach Russell Martin is under pressure to deliver results, and as a result, the Saints are expected to improve their performances in the coming weeks.

Mikel Arteta anticipates a tough challenge against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. He has also warned his players, emphasizing that the Saints are a well-coached team capable of causing problems.

"We know the significance and difficulty of the match. Last week the tough schedule that we have was proven and any opponent can cause you problems. When you think the game is under control, it can get out of your hands immediately, so it was probably a good thing to happen the way it ended up. We know the quality of Southampton and in my opinion, they’re a team who are extremely well-coached,” he said (via Arsenal website).

A win on Saturday could potentially move Arsenal up to second in the table before the international break. After that, they will travel to face Bournemouth, followed by a home game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.