Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: 5 key players to watch — Stage is set

3. Granit Xhaka

Speaking of being aware of Atletico’s threat on the counter-attack, there may not be a more important and pivotal player on the pitch than Granit Xhaka.

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When Arsenal have possession, the Swiss international will need to shift the ball with pace and precision, not allowing the play through the midfield zones to grow ponderous and lethargic, pushing the envelope forward, and playing at a position-unsettling tempo that can move a disciplined and wonderfully organised Atletico defence.

And all the while, Xhaka must be aware of what could come the other way. Madrid have the capability to turn defence into attack in an instant, perhaps unlike any other team in world football, and Arsenal are known for their reckless abandon when it comes to chasing games. Additionally, Xhaka is not the quickest and he does struggle when he has to cover vast spaces.

Atletico is the exact type of team that can take advantage of some of the deficiencies of Arsenal, and Xhaka in particular. The £35 million man is in the best form of his north London career, but that still doesn’t give me much confidence for the test that he will face on Thursday.