Arsenal Vs Burnley: 5 things we learned – The modern midfield

1. A mobile midfield

I have written extensively about the need for Arsenal’s central midfield options to adapt to the modern game and develop with the changing patterns of play. Gone are the well-defined roles of a midfield with a destroyer and creator pairing together. The need for versatility, control, press-releasing play, and, most importantly, mobility, is great.

It is not a coincidence that Granit Xhaka was the man missing from the central midfield trio on this occasion. Xhaka has his qualities, of course, but he is much better suited to a continental — or old fashioned — style of play, where the ball is moved slower and there is less pressure on the ball. In the high-pressing modern game, mobility and athleticism is crucial, and Xhaka has neither.

Contrast that to Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and especially Joe Willock, as well as Lucas Torreira who came on in the closing stages. All have a decent degree of speed and can cover ground throughout the 90 minutes. Xhaka cannot.

Arsenal played well here, even if the result does not quite reflect that. And much of their excellent play stemmed from the midfield, which did not have Granit Xhaka as a part of it.