Arsenal still haven’t filled the void left by Granit Xhaka

One can argue that even though Arsenal have started the Premier League season unbeaten through nine games, this side is not better than last season’s outfit.

At this point last season, the Gunners were atop the table and one point ahead of Manchester City having collected 24 points. The goal difference was +16 compared to +10, which it is now. While there may be more mettle and toughness in this team that has given the Gunners resolve in coming back from deficits against Chelsea and Manchester United, the creativity is lacking.

At first, I thought it was because teams were playing a low block and to that extent that is true. But in matches against Tottenham and Chelsea, the Gunners faced up against aggressive, high-pressing sides yet still struggled to progress up the field and create.

In the North London Derby, it was an own goal and penalty that led to the 2-2 draw. Against Chelsea last weekend, Declan Rice’s strike came directly from Robert Sanchez’s massive mistake that got the Gunners back into the contest. The equalising goal was a thing of beauty but outside of that, Arsenal created very little at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal continue to miss Granit Xhaka in midfield

I think the problem lies within the left side of the midfield where Granit Xhaka played last season. Arsenal have yet to define that role. Xhaka was as passionate as he was technical while operating from the left half-space, enjoying the most productive season of his Arsenal career.

Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira are yet to fit into the role just because they are not the types of players to play the two-way game Xhaka played.

Arteta has attempted to fit Declan Rice into that role on occasions, but has, in turn, left Jorginho occupying the holding midfielder role which proved disastrous against Spurs and Chelsea. Because Arteta has yet to define the role left by Xhaka, it has affected the play of Martin Odegaard, who has been stagnant on the right side of midfield and perhaps concerned by the lack of security on the opposite side.

As Arsenal’s most creative midfielder, it will only benefit the skipper once that role is defined.

Is Thomas Partey the solution?

Perhaps the solution is to play Partey in the role of Xhaka. Partey has shown he can be a part of the build-up and at the same time backtrack to be in a defensively responsible position. Maybe that will give Zinchenko more freedom to roam and not have Arsenal left without a first line of defence on the left in the counter. It also may give Gabriel Martinelli and Odegaard more freedom to roam in the middle of the infield because there isn’t that uncertainty about how the left-sided midfield will operate.

It’s uncertain how Arteta is going to move forward, but what is certain is that the Xhaka role needs to be defined if the attacking players like Odegaard and Martinelli are to flourish. If not, the offensive struggles will continue and title hopes will eventually fade.