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Arsenal: What does a rested Granit Xhaka look like?
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal, for the first time this season, have rested Granit Xhaka ahead of a crucial match. This is a new situation where the sky is the limit.
Arsenal have a lot of excitement building towards the first leg of the quarter final tie against CSKA Moscow. For starters, Alexandre Lacazette is back and firing. His confidence was outstanding against Stoke City and it will be a joy to see that continued in the Europa League.
There was also a lot of resting going on. Laurent Koscielny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the former of whom has had injury problems and the latter of whom has been a constant, hard-working presence, were both given breaks, although Micky did end up coming on later in the game.
And then there is Granit Xhaka. Xhaka was also given his first rest of the season before making a brief appearance to log some minutes alongside Micky.
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While I am perhaps the most outspoken proponent of Granit Xhaka, I have to say that in the little time he had, the Swiss was able to make an impact. Which is surprising, given that on a normal match day, Xhaka’s impact is a slow build. He does a lot of little things right and gradually works towards a solid game.
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Even lately, on this fantastic streak he has been on, he has had a run to gloat over, but it’s not like he’s been doing monumental things like pounding home goals or racking up assists. He’s been steady, smart and omnipresent.
Against Stoke, in just 14 minutes, his impact was felt. He made some superb passes and did his due diligence defending.
Which makes me ask the question – what does a rested Xhaka look like?
He has clearly slipped into the upper echelon of Arsenal players. His importance saw him preserved for this match against Moscow. And we may be in for a continuation of the superb streak he has been on, as he has fresh legs and everything else that accompanies the safety and security of the position that he is in.
Xhaka is not a high-impact guy usually. Lately he has been pushing that theory though and if ever there was going to be a time for him to truly exert an influence that we haven’t seen out of him in perhaps ever, then it is going to be this match.
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Naturally, that has me pretty excited. I hope I’m right.