Arsenal: 5 players impacted by Thomas Partey move

3. Granit Xhaka

The aforementioned left-sided central midfield role has been manned by Granit Xhaka, who has flourished with greater time on the ball and more opportunities to play the ball with his left foot when he acts as a left-back.

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The role is a neat adaptation of the 4-2-3-1 that provides good positional rotation in possession, making it difficult for teams to press Arsenal, especially in midfield as there is only one player with 20 yards of space to move into, providing options on the ball to play out from the back, and forming a front five with the positions that the left-back takes up.

Partey might be the ideal partner for Xhaka in a deep-lying double-pivot, the pair complementing one another with shared size, imposing frames, excellent distribution, and Partey providing greater defensive cover than, say, Dani Ceballos. Xhaka, then, might relish the chance to play alongside Partey. He also, however, might find himself turfed out of the team.

If Arteta does switch to a 4-3-3, Xhaka, like Ozil, does not fit. He neither has the range and defensive awareness to play as a holding midfielder or the creativity and attacking craft to play further up the pitch. Either way, his role will change mightily,