Arsenal vs Napoli: 5 key players to steady the rocking boat

4. Granit Xhaka

I don’t know if I have ever missed Granit Xhaka more than against Everton, and think about who’s making that statement. Xhaka was the one guy who I think could have made a difference against the Toffees, and it all comes down to his M.O. – control.

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Without that control, with Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny so incredibly limited as a partnership, Arsenal’s midfield imploded and was completely overwhelmed. Completely. Without that foundation, everything else shriveled and died – particularly the attack, which was left without anything to stand on. Alone. Isolated. Yuck.

Xhaka is the guy that fixes that, and with Napoli on the docket, it couldn’t be more important to have a foundation to lean on, so provide support for an attack that has such needy players as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Guys like that, while prolific, can’t function without service and Xhaka is premium at providing service to Ozil, as well as stability, and thus providing hope for those strikers.

Not to mention the potential for a thumping goal always pads his value. Don’t underestimate the importance of a free kick from deep to make a 3-0 lead 4-0. But let’s not get too ahead of myself.

On to No. 3.