Arsenal: Granit Xhaka can fill the void that needs filling

Arsenal are going to need some help against Leicester City, but Granit Xhaka is just the guy to count on to help with what needs help.

Arsenal‘s collapse against Wolverhampton showcased a lot of issues that we might have thought were long passed. But it really was just the perfect storm of misfortune. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was out, so we weren’t able to play with two up front, the wingbacks were less of an option, Granit Xhaka was rusty from his time out and there just weren’t any chances to be had.

Going into Leicester City, I expect that a lot has changed. I don’t think the club will bottom out again. I don’t think the sloppiness will be there. I don’t think we won’t have wingbacks and, by extension, I don’t think chances will be an issue.

But most importantly, I don’t think Xhaka will be an issue. In fact, I know he won’t be. He’s not had two bad matches in a row all season, he’s not made those kind of mistakes all season. He’s been a mainstay, and that will continue against Leicester City.

The other thing that we’ll see against Leicester City is Xhaka’s amorphous ability to fill in where he needs to.

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We even saw that against Wolverhampton. In a complete creative void, he stepped up and created three chances all on his own, the most on the team, more than our three creative midfielders combined.

And we’ve seen him filling other roles too, as need be. He’s slipped into the defense and helped there, he’s provided width, he’s scored the occasional goal, he’s done all manner of things that we don’t traditionally ask him to do. His objective is to control the tempo and spray the ball around the pitch. Which he does.

These other things, these tertiary skillsets, have developed as the year went along, and against Leicester City we will see these skills come back as necessary. Ideally, none of them will be necessary, and Xhaka can focus on himself and his own responsibilities and leave everybody else to their responsibilities. But that’s never a sure thing is it? Especially not with this club.

Thankfully, if I trust anyone to handle that job, it’s Granit Xhaka. Well… Aaron Ramsey too, but as he isn’t available we can’t exactly rely on that. But Xhaka has proven himself and his ability to go above and beyond and after the horror show at Wolverhampton, he’ll show his gumption by rebounding in this one.