WITH the Arsenal fanbase still basking in the exhilarating football played by their team on Saturday, there are so many aspects to dissect.
However, I have chosen a subject that is still, even now, dividing the fanbase – the renaissance of Granit Xhaka.
I try not to have favourites in the squad, but it would be fair to say, that if I did, the Swiss has seldom been amongst them since his arrival.
That said my issues were never with his ability, but more the attributes for the position he was asked to play.
No one can ever question his passing range and vision but being less then quick when frequently asked to play as the deeper midfielder, particularly when a player is prone to a rash challenge, was always liable to cause issues.
It was the vocal fan criticism of Xhaka while club captain when being asked to play as a defensive midfielder that led to the infamous incident against Crystal Palace.
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It seemed extremely unlikely, as that when he stormed off the pitch discarding the armband in a fit of rage, that there was a long-term future for the Swiss in North London.
After playing his way back into the side under new boss Mikel Arteta, Xhaka appeared to try and force a move to Roma in the summer of 2021 – and once again a rosy future at Arsenal did not seem possible.
Yet here we are just over a year later and the Xhaka has not left, instead extending his contract and being named one of two vice-captains by Arteta.
Even now, our fanbase are arguing about whether the club should replace him with Leicester’s Youri Tielemans.
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Barring his awful red card away at Man City, Xhaka maintained his discipline far better in 21-22 – but the real reason for his change of fortune and form, in my view, has been the new role he has been given.
Playing Thomas Partey as a sole No6 in an altered and flexible 4-1-2-3 and moving Xhaka to a more advanced left-sided No8 role has played to his strengths, while leaving his weaknesses less likely to be exposed.
He is more involved in the team’s attacking play, using his eye for an incisive pass and being less worried about making advanced runs, witness the saved header and goal against Leicester.
Some fans will argue that Arsenal can source a better, younger left No8, more suited to the age profile of Arteta’s new team and it would be hard to argue with that view.
But the team has to balance that longer term plan, which will see the team evolve together, with a sprinkling of older, experienced heads and Granit Xhaka is the club’s senior statesman.
This is obviously why the manager has, after a three-year break, given his trusted player official responsibility once more.
That said I believe Xhaka’s continued presence in the team is about far more than his seniority and everything about his reading of the game and his willingness to adapt and sacrifice himself for the team balance.
You only have to watch the way Oleksandr Zinchenko moved into midfield as soon as the ball was played out of our defence, to know that the Swiss is trusted by his manager to drop back and cover without instruction.
Indeed, the relationship on the pitch between the Ukrainian and Xhaka belied the fact it is only two competitive matches old.
Like his manager later in his career, Xhaka just seems to know when he needs to fill in for a colleague who has advanced past him in a given attack.
It may be that Albert Sambi Lokonga or Fabio Vieira will compete with our senior midfielder for the left No8 role but in my view, Granit Xkaha will not be relinquishing his first-choice role anytime soon.
He is trusted by his manager, valued by his team-mates and most importantly, has the football brain for the flexible, fluid style Arteta wishes to play.
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Vitally, his new advanced role will not leave his lack of mobility and moments of rashness exposed.
It really seems that the renaissance of Granit Xhaka is complete, and I take my hat off to him.
Follow Dave Seager on Twitter @goonerdave66
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
