Arsenal: 3 things you didn’t notice Granit Xhaka doing vs Newcastle

1. Played that left pocket role and letting Saka get forward

Remember how I mentioned in the first slide that Xhaka’s primary bit of ground coverage came from one particular swath of the pitch? This is that swatch (also, I just love the word swatch). It’s been a bit of a Mikel Arteta innovation to create a brand new position for Granit Xhaka that I’ve just been referring to as “left pocket.”

Instead of staying front and center all the time, Xhaka, with his dominant left foot, slides in towards a position in between the left centerback and Bukayo Saka at left back.

The result is an increased amount of freedom for both Xhaka and Saka, and as of yet, it hasn’t had any negative defensive repercussions.

The only reason Saka is able to get forward so much form that left side is because Xhaka is sliding in behind to cover the ground and serve as a left back. You probably didn’t notice because Xhaka does such a good job holding down the fort that it does what good defending often does—it doesn’t call attention.

Saka took home man of the match according to Arsenal, but that doesn’t happen without Xhaka holding up his end of the bargain, the less than glorified end.