Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon: 4 things we’d like to see

2. Further Evidence That There is Life Without Granit Xhaka

First of all, the caveat: AFC Wimbledon are in League One and precious little that happens on Wednesday will indicate to Arteta that Granit Xhaka is no longer an essential cog in his Arsenal team.

But what if he’s already seen that light?

Opting for a shape most closely resembling a 4-1-4-1 against Burnley and later bringing on two central midfielders in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Arteta has to begin seeing what this team is capable of without the Swiss.

Under normal circumstances, Xhaka would have been a shoo-in for that game as he is the physical and vocal presence that the narrative would suggest is essential heading to Turf Moor. Sambi and Maitland-Niles came on and were superb, winning every loose ball, covering every blade of grass and adding the bite and carrying ability to ease the pressure on Arsenal.

Wimbledon is set to be an easier task, no doubt. The same two are likely to start and if there is further evidence of steel in midfield coupled with more adventurous variety in how they attack then if there was a seed planted in Arteta’s mind it might just have grown its first leaf. But only one leaf. This is the EFL Cup against a third division side.

Is Xhaka going to start the North London Derby? It feels inevitable and, in all honesty, he’ll probably have a brilliant game.

But if there are any minor selection arguments Arteta has going on internally then another solid 90 minutes from a midfield presenting a new dynamism may just tip the scale. It’s unlikely, but this is about what could come further down the line. A vision for the future is growing.

Continued…