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…

2. The Xhaka & Partey Double Pivot is Effective

Before it emerged that Xhaka leaving Arsenal in the summer was even a possibility, the double pivot partnership with Partey that was formed showed very promising signs.

Partey never truly clicked into first gear in an injury ravaged debut season but in the angled pairing they found a rhythm and defensive stability that worked. It wasn’t perfect and the usual traits of Xhaka feeding Tierney down the left or dropping into the left centre-back role to aid progression did leave something to be desired, but it was solid.

When Xhaka didn’t play his absence was felt. Arsenal crumbled without his defensive screen as they became unstable and fragile. For all his faults, he undoubtedly brings a structure to the midfield from a defensive point of view. He is constantly barking orders and there is clarity of job job role.

Together they complemented each other and in no game was that more noticeable than this very fixture last season. That opening 45 minutes in which Tottenham scored with their only shot saw the balancing act in play with Partey slightly more advanced on the right and Xhaka switching the play with his usual accuracy.

While there are limitations to it, it helped Arsenal sustain pressure on that day. Can the ball be moved quicker through the third in fewer touches? Absolutely. Is it an elite duo? No.

But it does work and it’s by far the most experienced pair that Arteta can pick for a fixture of this magnitude.

Continued…

3. Granit Xhaka Doesn’t Have to Complete the 90 Minutes

Clutching at straws?

Just because he starts the match on Sunday doesn’t mean he’ll have to finish it. Arsenal have three other central midfielders in the squad who can come into that area of the pitch (preferably not Mohamed Elneny) and the opportunity is there to return to the 4-1-4-1 and bring on another forward in his stead.

There is no doubting that Xhaka is a fitness monster who despite not playing for a number of weeks and being absent with COVID-19 is probably in tip-top shape. But no matter how fit you are or physically able you may be, nothing comes close to testing that like actual match fitness.

This isn’t just any match, either.

So much will depend on game state. If Arsenal find themselves in front then there is the chance for a more defensive-minded option whereas if it’s level or they’re trailingp then bringing on a Nicolas Pepe or Gabriel Martinelli with Martin Odegaard dropping deeper can come into effect.

How about a change of system with him acting as left-back to bring even more firepower to the final third? We jest. Don’t worry.