Arsenal: Enigmatic Granit Xhaka beginning to be understood

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka has suffered a turbulent and inconsistent year. But in recent weeks, Arsene Wenger has begun to understand him and utilised him as such.

Arsenal have needed a tough-tackling, industrious, combative midfielder for some time. Ever since the departure of Gilberto Silva, it has been a position that has plagued the fate of the side, with Arsene Wenger failing to address the balance of undersized, technically-orientated midfielders with stronger, more powerful, more physically imposing players alongside them.

A number of different players have been trialled in the role with mixed success, but Wenger saw it fit to dip his toe into the murky transfer waters last summer to try and address the position. The man who Wenger hung his hat on was Granit Xhaka.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

But since that time, the Swiss international’s most suited position within the central midfield has become convoluted. As James McNicholas points out for ESPN, Wenger himself has flipped and flopped regarding Xhaka’s best role, first describing him as a surging, driving box-to-box type player, before amending his statement, stating that a deeper-lying, more quarterback-like role is better suited to his talents.

And that growing understanding of Xhaka’s talents, and how they best suit the side and in what structure, has seen him blossom in recent weeks. Ever since Wenger has implemented the 3-4-3 system that has served Chelsea so well as league leaders, Xhaka has been stationed in front of the back three, marshalling the midfield through a control of possession, dictating play and setting the tempo for Arsenal’s passing.

His new duties exploit his most obvious and influential talent: his passing range. Xhaka has an extraordinary, raking ability to spray passes all about the pitch. This is a trait that has excelled with the attack-minded wing-backs relentlessly bombing forward, finding them in wide channels time and time again, and being able to pick out Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in between the lines, providing them with a foundation to roam in the final third, receiving the ball on the half turn, and then driving at the opposition defence.

The issues, though, have come against teams willing to press him high up the pitch. He lacks the mobility and the balance to evade pressure and, given his dependence on his left foot, struggles to release the ball quickly off of both flanks.

Next: Arsenal Vs Everton: Predicted starting XI

Xhaka is far from the polished, accomplished, dominating midfielder that Arsenal have required for many years. But with Wenger beginning to understand his best role, rather than squeezing him under instruction that does not best suit his qualities, Xhaka is starting to flourish. Here’s hoping it can continue.

Home/Arsenal News