Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

3 reasons why Arsenal should not sell Granit Xhaka

By Adam Keys

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is challenged by Joe Willock of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on May 07, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is challenged by Joe Willock of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on May 07, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Xhaka has become one of Mikel Arteta’s go-to men. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Xhaka has become one of Mikel Arteta’s go-to men. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Positional understanding

Right now, Arsenal do not have any players who have the positional sense of Granit Xhaka off the ball in the left-eight position, and that has been highlighted when Fabio Vieira has played in his place.

Vieira is someone who looks significantly off the pace in the Premier League, and going into next season with him as the backup for a Mason Mount or a Declan Rice is a big risk given the importance of off-the-ball positional play in Arteta’s well-coached system.

There has been talk of Arteta training Emile Smith Rowe to play that role, but even more talk that he could be a surprise sale, and with his injury record, he is an even bigger risk than Fabio Vieira at this time.

Upgrading on Xhaka is certainly the next step in the project for Arsenal, but upgrading shouldn’t mean that the current option is sold. After all, we’ve seen the success of having Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney as backups this season, and they were two crucial starters this time last year.

Home/Arsenal Transfer Rumours