Arsenal Vs Southampton: 5 things we learned – Anyone know a defender?

4. Give Granit Xhaka credit

There wasn’t much to be positive about from this game, as you may be able to tell from my tone in this piece. But if there is one player that is worthy of some praise, then Granit Xhaka would be it. Playing out of position, the Swiss international was excellent.

For the first half, Xhaka played as the left-sided centre-half in a back three. He struggled with Nathan Redmond at times, but managed an awkward position. When Unai Emery was forced to withdraw Hector Bellerin at half-time and switch to a back four, Xhaka then had to slot into centre-half alongside Laurent Koscielny as a part of a pair, a wholly unusual position for the midfielder.

It was here that he was at his most influential. He played like a genuine defender, clearing crosses, throwing himself into tackles, making a series of excellent clearances, as well as playing some nice forward passes, as would be expected given his midfield heritage. Xhaka was not perfect. No Arsenal player was. But playing completely out of position, he was committed, applied and aware, and that is all you can ask for.