Arsenal: 3 positives of Granit Xhaka starting vs Spurs

Granit Xhaka is back for Arsenal on Sunday. Of course he is, it’s the North London Derby in the Premier League and if there was ever a player you’d envisage featuring in it, it’d be him.

Since getting sent off against Manchester City prior to the international break Arsenal have won three matches, scored five goals and conceded none.

Prior to and including Xhaka’s dismissal Arsenal had lost three matches, scored zero goals and conceded six. Is it unfair to pin that all on him? Yes. Obviously.

A makeshift side fell way short at Brentford before another incomplete Arsenal team were bullied by the European champions, and then the Premier League champions made light work of some bewildering tactics and defensive decisions.

3 positives that can come from Mikel Arteta starting Granit Xhaka in midfield for Arsenal against Tottenham in the North London Derby

But Arsenal have just got their surfboard out to see and picked up the tiniest crest of movement. This is no wave, nor is it transformative, but it’s improvements across the board and confidence is rising with dabbles of the 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 shape.

With the Swiss now back and available for selection, will Mikel Arteta thrust his trusted general straight back into the firing line? You’d hazard a guess that he will.

Whether it is the right call or not is not the topic at hand. There is an air of inevitability about the selection even if it’s not cut and dry, so if Xhaka is partnered by Thomas Partey in central midfield what good will come of it takes precedent. Love him or hate him, he’s still an Arsenal player.

The concept of meritocracy would be brought into question. Non-negotiables and such. However, working on the basis that the 28-year-old remains as loved by his manager as has been witnessed during his tenure, let’s look at what positives can come from his inclusion.

1. He Loves the Adversity

We know the story. We’ve seen it played out many times before:

• Xhaka does something stupid
• Xhaka returns from doing something stupid remarkably well

The most recent rendition of this was his red card at home to Burnley last season. A moment of utter madness and stupidity that played its part in Arsenal losing the game was the next in line of the many straws to have supposedly broken the camel’s back.

How did he respond? He had the best half-season of his Arsenal career to date. As divisive as he is, his form from his return to the end of the season was unfairly overlooked. He brought balance and stability which played its part in the strong run of results for Arteta’s side after Boxing Day.

The red cards, the telling the fans to f**k off, the brain farts with his back to goal and the silly fouls; all of it usually is succeeded by a strong performance out of nowhere.

It’s like he has some sick addiction to everyone hating him and then turning the narrative up on its head. If he put in a brilliant display on Sunday, 8/10 sort of stuff, would anyone actually be surprised?

Continued…