Arsenal and Granit Xhaka: Defending not the biggest problem

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been widely criticised for his level of play so far this season. However, as many suggest, it is not his defensive shortcomings are not his biggest problem.

It has not been a positive start to the season for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka. He played perfectly averagely in the opening win over Newcastle United, was then utterly exploited by Liverpool two weeks later, and on Sunday, was the primary culprit for the Gunners’ failure to win the first North London Derby of the season. And amid all that, Arsenal’s best midfield performance, at home against Burnley, came, not coincidentally, with Xhaka sat at home.

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Consequently, the criticism of the Swiss international has intensified. Even his staunchest supporters are beginning to doubt his efficacy, while those that have remained agnostic on his ability and impact are swaying towards the more slighting end of the spectrum. Fans have had enough of Xhaka.

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But the primary reason for the increased Xhaka defection is his the accentuation of his defensive shortcomings. From his lack of mobility when protecting the defence against vicious counter-attacks to his rash tackling style, as evidenced by his seven fouls on Sunday, including scissoring his way to hand Spurs a stonewall penalty, his inability to defend has been made quite evident this season.

However, I would argue that the greatest problem with Xhaka is not his defending. Yes, his lack of athleticism and poor tackling technique is extremely concerning and will continue to harm Arsenal throughout the season, but Paul Scholes also suffered from these same inabilities. Sir Alex Ferguson, though, recognised that the passing control and creativity of the flame-haired 5-foot-6 magician were invaluable. He sacrificed Scholes’ defensive vulnerabilities for the greater command he provided the team.

Xhaka’s greatest asset, apparently, is his passing. When given time on the ball, he has the awareness, vision and skill to spray passes throughout the pitch, dictating play from deep, and instigating counter-attacks from turnovers. He does have a good range of distribution off his left foot and he can play very difficult passes that others cannot.

The problem this season, however, is that he is now no longer providing this. Against Liverpool especially, because of the pressure he was often under and in his inability to dribble clear, he was penned deep into his territory, scared to play forwards, regularly playing backwards passes to Bernd Leno or the full-backs, inviting Liverpool to press high up the pitch.

His passing was again off against Spurs. While he played fewer backwards passes this time, it was his offensive distribution that scuppered potential attacks, flat out missing teammates with inaccurate balls forward at times. For someone who is in the team to spring attacks with his passing, this is unnacceptable.

And this is the crux of the Xhaka issue. The fact he cannot defend is problematic, of course, but it is palatable if he provides other elements. But at present, what he is meant to offer the team, he is not doing. This, more than anything else, is why he should be dropped.