Spurs vs Arsenal: 4 pre-match discussions for the derby

2. 10/10 Granit Xhaka or Red Card Granit Xhaka?

Last season was the best individual campaign Granit Xhaka has had at Arsenal. This time? He’s gone one better.

One of a many individuals in this team playing the best football of their careers, Xhaka’s performances this season have been outstanding, especially of late. Tactically he’s much wiser than he’s given credit for, and the shifts he’s put in playing in positions seemingly far out of his comfort zone are even more impressive.

But this is the derby. And Xhaka, while improved in that regard of late, is still Xhaka. He still loses his head needlessly – see Manchester United and Leeds – and can be prone to the reckless.

This is a game where we could be in store for and absolute masterclass-for-the-ages-10/10-performance that marks his finest 90 minutes in an Arsenal shirt, or he could get sent off for a last-man foul on Son that puts the Gunners down to ten with their most important midfielder missing the final two games.

There has been a certain improvement on the unfavourable side, though, and more often than not he is the one breaking fights up as opposed to starting. More importantly, he’s playing very, very well at the minute and it would be a huge surprise to see him drop those levels in this game.

He is one who knows better than most others in the squad what this game means.

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