Arsenal: 5 key players to take three points in home opener vs Burnley

1. Granit Xhaka

The haters were out in full force after Newcastle. It’s funny how the split was between “Granit Xhaka is worthless” and “Granit Xhaka was key to the victory.” Naturally, I fell in the latter camp, because I was able to see how valuable his presence was in controlling the game and killing off the final result.

He was also instrumental in keeping his teammates’ heads in the game, particularly after the goal, which is so often a problem point for these Gunners. It’s also the captain’s job, and clearly Xhaka took that job seriously.

Against Burnley, the match will be in a much more controllable state, and Xhaka should flourish because of it. Newcastle was definitely a hectic match, a dirty match, the kind that you have to bear down and fight for, and the Gunners did. At the Emirates, it figures to be a much kinder environment, and if we could hold a 1-0 lead in the swamps of St. Mary’s, then Xhaka can definitely coordinate a comfy win against Burnley at home.

And, if nothing else, winning the battle of the midfield is always a good way to ensure that you win the match as a whole.

Consider this: Whenever Granit Xhaka has a good match, Arsenal seem to have a good match. So that’s why he’s going to be key for the foreseeable future.