Arsenal: The ghost of Granit Xhaka making things uncomfortable

Arsenal’s win against Huddersfield was less than convincing, and yet again the lingering absence of Granit Xhaka proved problematic.

For yet another match, Arsenal were without their central figure, Granit Xhaka. You wouldn’t have thought that, playing against bottom-feeding Huddersfield, it would have been much of a problem, seeing as how it was the midfield that thrived against Manchester City, but that wasn’t the case.

Against Huddersfield, the midfield, and really the entire team, was just unable to hold onto possession.

If it wasn’t for some fantastic goal-keeping, some last ditch defending and enough attacking play to help the club limp over the finish line. But the announcers hit the nail right on the head during the match. No matter how well the Gunners attacked or defended in a pinch, they had zero control to actually hold the match at bay.

I know what Unai Emery said, that his team doesn’t have control, or can’t exhibit control, but he’s wrong, and Granit Xhaka has proven that time and again.

And, in matches like this, when the midfield is so clearly unequipped to deal with the pressure, you see, in what we don’t have, what we do have when he is with us. Like the ghost of Granit Xhaka is lingering about the pitch, reminding us what he could be doing with the match.

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You may be thinking, “shut up, Josh, we’ve heard this before. Literally, after every match you’re talking about it.” And you’d be right, I do. But I do it for good reason. Because you can’t underestimate how important it is to control a match. And I mean actually control it. Like not flying back and forth from attack to defense but taking hold of a match and dictating the flow of the match.

Every time Xhaka is out of the match (Manchester United, Manchester City, Huddersfield), there is one obvious theme – bedlam. No ability to keep the ball, and a heck of a lot of surrendered possession and susceptibility to counter attacks.

So while Xhaka might still not be the best defender, in doing what he does, in holding the ball and not giving it away as soon as he tries to start a counter, he is giving the defense more than a straight up defensive midfielder would.

And don’t worry. In case you forget, I’ll be here to say it again next week when his presence or absence has such a effect on the match. I look forward to enlightening you again.