Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has now admitted that he wants one player to be in a much more offensive role against Bayern Munich tonight.
Mikel Arteta will have learned a lot from the first leg, when Bayern demonstrated their threat on the counter.
Leroy Sane was exceptional, and caused Jakub Kiwior to be hooked half-time given he was being easily beaten.
And although Sane’s levels may have been a bit of a surprise, looking like the player who once won games for Manchester City, Harry Kane’s performance wouldn’t have been a shock.
The striker’s passing was cutting Arsenal’s defence apart, even if his goal-scoring opportunities were limited.
And whilst it felt as if Mikel Arteta got his team selection right on that evening at least, the same can’t be said for Sunday’s defeat to Aston Villa.
And with that in mind, Ray Parlour has now been calling for the Arsenal boss to make some minor, but important tweaks this evening.
Ray Parlour adamant that Arsenal need to start Declan Rice as a number eight tonight
Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, Ray Parlour believed that Declan Rice needed to return to a more attacking role.
The former Arsenal player insisted that Jorginho should therefore start, and Kai Havertz should be reinstated as the false nine.
He explained: “Jorginho brings that little bit more calmness in that midfield and gives Declan Rice a bit more licence, because I really want to see Declan get himself forward because I think he has so much to offer.
“I don’t like the holding midfielder anyway, I like the ones who can get forward and back, like Bryan Robson back in the day.
“So Declan has to have that licence and it’s common sense in midfield, if you see your partner running forward you just fill in for him. Simple.
“So I want to see Declan get forward a bit but I think he might go that way tonight.
“You can’t concede early, I think he will go with that solid base in midfield, Havertz will be the one probably who plays the false number nine.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu deserves his first start since December
Of course, it’s hard to argue with any of what Ray Parlour states, Arsenal would be better off with those changes.
And although not mentioned, it’s similarly important that both Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu play.
Martinelli’s pace and ability could be crucial on the counter, as we saw against Sevilla in the group stage.
And if Arsenal struggled to contain Sane in the first leg, then Tomiyasu is definitely best placed to change that, one of the best one-on-one defenders in the squad.
All that being said, Alan Brazil has just shared his prediction for tonight’s game.
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