Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned – Positives despite disappointment

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

4. Dani Ceballos can be midfield solution

Dani Ceballos has produced these types of performances before. He was excellent against Burnley at the start of the season. He was then superb against Norwich City last month. Few doubted that he was capable performing at the level that he did on Tuesday night. What was questioned was whether he could be consistent.

This the change in Ceballos’ performance level: he is consistently impacting and controlling games, not enjoying a brilliant performance and then going quiet three days later. It is why he can be Arsenal’s long-term midfield solution.

Where Matteo Guendouzi has fallen out of favour and Granit Xhaka has severe limitations, despite his mostly decent form under Mikel Arteta, Ceballos marries the pair’s talent and character. He is committed, he works hard, he does not possess the same weaknesses as Xhaka, and he is still growing and improving. If consistency comes, and at this stage it has, he can be the long-term answer to the central midfield issues.