Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: Why Granit Xhaka is key

Arsenal travel to Newcastle United on Sunday as they open up their campaign. For the Gunners to win, Granit Xhaka is absolutely key.

For Arsenal, the season starts on Sunday. Their first task is to take on an enhardened, industrious, but somewhat limited Newcastle United side. The trip to St. James Park is one that the Gunners should be looking to win, should they harbour genuine hopes of claiming a top-four place at the end of the season.

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So what does Unai Emery’s side have to do to overcome a Newcastle team that will most certainly put up a fight in their home stadium? Well, it might well all start with central midfielder Granit Xhaka.

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For all of his faults, Xhaka is critical to the Arsenal team. He anchors the midfield, protects the central midfield, — whether he actually protects the midfield or not is another question, but that is what he is in the team to do — and dictates play from deep, spraying passes left and right, instigating attacks and controlling the tempo of the match. And this is even more pertinent this weekend.

Arsenal are dealing with a whole host of absences throughout the team, with plenty of other players not at their sharpest either. Alexandre Lacazette has an ankle problem and is a doubt, Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have not travelled with the squad due to safety concerns, while the likes of Dani Ceballos, Nicolas Pepe, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and David Luiz are all dealing with a lack of match fitness. Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding will all miss out due to injuries from last season.

Xhaka is the team captain, as Emery confirmed earlier this summer, so his leadership will be crucial as he leads some of the younger, less-experienced players through their paces, but he will also be vital to the way the Gunners set up against Newcastle.

Miguel Almiron is Newcastle’s primary threat. The former MLS star will drop into the pockets of space between the midfield and defence, receive the ball on the half-turn and look to spring clear of the Arsenal midfield and drive at an exposed backline. For Xhaka, he must be aware of where Almiron is at all times, especially against the counter-attack, which is something that he is not always a master.

Meanwhile, Xhaka must be conducting and controlling in possession. If Arsenal do not move the ball quickly, with purpose, pace and precision, they will struggle to break Newcastle down, the space compacted in the final third as the home side sit deep, not pulled in and out of their positions through quick combination play.

With Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool all getting off to perfect starts, Emery will be keen for his team to get off to a good start. And if that is going to happen, Xhaka must play well.