Arsenal: Joe Willock could be the one who makes way

Arsenal are about to have an abundance problem in midfield, and like it or not, but Joe Willock is probably going to be the one that makes way.

I love Arsenal‘s midfield right now. It’s dynamic, it’s young, it’s versatile, and it’s the home of Granit Xhaka. Who was tragically missing against Burnley. In his absence, Dani Ceballos took home man of the match, Matteo Guendouzi did his usual thing, and Joe Willock was quiet, but quietly effective.

And that doesn’t even account for Lucas Torreira, who has only just returned to the fray on his journey back to match fitness.

Given the midfield three is Unai Emery’s favorite, and all of our favorites too, we now have the happy problem of having five guys for three jobs, and the time is coming for a decision to be made.

I loved how this midfield looked against Burnley, but it wasn’t perfect. It was active, mobile, they rotated their positions effectively and combined quite well.

But they weren’t perfect.

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Which means that, with more names at his disposal, Unai Emery is going to have more ability to pick his best options, and that means there are likely two rotations on the way, with Xhaka and Torreira back and them being first-choice midfielders more times than not.

Even if Torreira doesn’t start yet, Xhaka has to. And that’s not even my bias speaking, that’s just a fact. Honestly, if you want the best midfield option, you need Xhaka in a deeper role where he normally is, a defensive option next to him and push Ceballos up to the No. 10.

That is how you’re going to get the most out of this midfield, and unfortunately, that means Willock’s name may be the first removed. Not necessarily at any fault of his own, but simply because, while he is solid and improving, he isn’t the dominating presence that someone like Ceballos or Xhaka is. Not yet anyway. He’s going to grow into it, but not yet. And he’s a fantastic option to bring around when rotation is needed.

Of course, that also might mean that Guendouzi makes way, because if we’re going with our best choice choice midfield, that’s just the hard truth right now.

Ceballos at the No. 10, Torreira and Xhaka in behind. That is our best midfield. It’s harsh for the young’uns. It sucks. But as we saw with Calum Chambers, not everyone who takes a seat necessarily deserves to.