Arsenal: The main problem with Granit Xhaka playing leftback

Arsenal played Granit Xhaka at leftback yet again, and among the mounting problems with this decision, there is one not spoken of as much.

Fun fact of the day: Granit Xhaka still isn’t a leftback. Bonus fun fact: He’s actually playing a decent one, despite the fact that he shouldn’t be playing one at all. Arsenal’s fullback situation is in shambles, and in the wake of the rubble, Xhaka has had to play leftback for three straight matches now, and in each one, questions were asked.

Well, against Crystal Palace, they will be asked the most, as it was his penalty that gave Palace the equalizer to end the Gunners win streak. Whether it was a flop or not (it was) doesn’t necessarily matter as much as the fact that it was still a poor tackle from Xhaka in a position he shouldn’t have ever been in.

That said, it was Xhaka’s first mistake at leftback. He played the role quite convincingly from the off and was third on the team in tackles won. Of course, that isn’t the main reason why we should be celebrating him, however.

It was Xhaka’s brilliant curler from a freekick that gave the Gunners their first goal, and it was a corner whipped in by him that gave Aubameyang the go-ahead goal. Xhaka was instrumental in what little capacity he could be.

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But that’s the thing. Say all you want about how Xhaka shouldn’t be playing fullback because he can’t defend well enough – I’ll agree with you. But the true travesty of playing Xhaka at fullback is you lose his influence in the middle of the pitch.

Torreira and Guendouzi don’t have the wherewithal and the presence to mimic what Xhaka is able to do with the ball at his feet at the heart of the club. Xhaka’s passing is indispensable because of how well it opens up opposing defenses and allows for Arsenal players to swim through the defense as it tries to recover.

That is all missing. Xhaka needs to touch the ball a lot, he needs to be able to work his magic and when you stuff him on the left flank in a defensive role, you severely limit that ability, if not taking it away altogether.

That is the real problem here. His defending hasn’t been as terrible as it might have been, but his missing influence in the midfield is crippling the club.