Honestly I think there is a fix here. I really think Arteta is missing a trick not playing Zinchenko as the left #8 and Rice in his natural #6 roles. Perhaps that is the longer term plan to phase out Partey (because it seems like that is definitely starting to happen). Zinchenko is so good at moving playing from phase 2 to phase 3. I think with Rice playing as the #6, he can get on the ball to satiate his need to have the ball. When Rice plays #8, I’ve noticed he tends to do a LOT. Which is great, he is am amazing all phases player, but it also tends to increase our bias to the left side, and takes the best aspects of Odegaard out of the game (mainly his ability to go from a distributor in phase 2, to making a late run into the box in phase 3.

With Zinchenko playing as a left #8, I think it would allow for Rice to do what he is good at (be the main pivot of the attack, basically the role Arteta had when he played), but we get additional creativity in midfield with Zinchenko (who I really think is underrated in his ability to be a phase 3 player).