Arsenal Vs Atletico: No one more important than Granit Xhaka

Arsenal face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Europa League next week. As I think about the game, I have realised that there is no player on the pitch that is more important than Granit Xhaka.

I have said for some time now that the biggest game of the season for Arsenal will be every single Europa League game that is played. That started with the first leg against AC Milan in the last-16 round a little over a month ago. It continued through the quarter-finals against CSKA Moscow. It is now true for the upcoming semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

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As I think about the upcoming tie against the Spaniard’s, I can’t help but be drawn to the importance of one player in particular: Granit Xhaka.

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The Swiss international returned after a short absence with the flu in Sunday’s loss to Newcastle United. In a subdued but sensible display, he showed precisely what he provides this team from the deep-lying midfield position; his ability to play forward-passes through the midfield and defensive lines of the opposition is integral to the side’s attacking play, initiating attacks with a tempo and intention that is otherwise absent.

And this will be a crucial quality against a Madrid team that is wonderfully organised and disciplined. For a number of years now, Diego Simeone’s side have boasted one of the best defensive records in world football. And it is not just down to the players playing. Their system is outstandingly executed, with every single individual acutely aware of their role and responsibility as a part of the whole.

Arsenal will have to shift the ball quickly if they are to break down such a technically and mentally sound defence. That, largely, will come down to Xhaka’s ability to release passes early and directly, looking to attack with a more straightforward approach, rather than slaloming around the houses as this team tends to do.

But Xhaka must do more than play nice passes when he has the ball. This Madrid side are blistering on the counter-attack. Firing direct passes into Diego Costa, or another lone centre-forward, and allowing Antoine Griezmann to buzz around him and pick up the loose balls, flying into the crevasses of the opposing defence is a strategy that has served this team well for many years.

It will be the responsibility of Xhaka to first try and cut out the service into Costa and then challenge Griezmann, who is the primary threat of this team. That is no easy task and it is one that he has struggled with in the past. Reading and anticipating danger, and then moving to clog up passing lanes and slow down the attacking progress of the opposition, is not the Swiss international’s natural game. Nevertheless, that is precisely what he must do here.

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And so, the more that I think about this game, the more that I cannot help but think that Xhaka will be integral to the success of Arsenal. That may or may not be a bad thing. I guess only time will tell.