Granit Xhaka divides opinion. The £35 million man arrived in the English capital from Borussia Mönchengladbach two seasons ago as a solution to Arsenal’s defensive midfield problems but has failed to convince the supporters and pundits alike that he is the man for the job.
Many consider him as the face of Arsenal’s more chaotic approach. Yet, the man, considered by pundits as a headless chicken wandering around, might be the answer to many problems that have engulfed Arsenal. Despite the summer acquisitions of Lucas Torreira and Mattéo Guendouzi, here are five reasons why Granit Xhaka should retain his place in Unai Emery’s starting XI.
Alexis Sanchez, departing for Manchester United in the January transfer window, affected Arsenal in more ways than expected. He was one of the very few players at the club who could win games on his own. Now that he has left, Aaron Ramsey is the only one at the club, who can remotely replicate the same.
The Welshman, at his rampaging best, contributes to the offense like no other central midfielder in the league. 11 goals and 12 assists last season are numbers some strikers are jealous of. The late runs the 27-year-old makes into the box offer an extra outlet in the penalty box with only Alexandre Lacazette outscoring him last campaign.
However, the inclusion of Ramsey in the starting XI poses certain risks as well. The attack-minded midfielder often leaves his position in the middle of the park in search of a goal and leaves the midfield exposed to counter attacks. This can be nullified by having an extra body in the midfield, along with Torreira or Guendouzi, in the form of Xhaka who can offer defensive discipline and orchestrate the attacks from the base of the midfield.
Playing a 4-3-3 with two solid defensive midfielders shores up and adds an extra layer of protection to the defense that is susceptible and prone to counter attacks. Furthermore, it lets the attackers focus more on inflicting damage in the final third of the pitch.
The inclusion of the Swiss midfielder lets Emery utilise both Lacazette and Aubameyang, two strikers with bundles of pace. Moreover, with Torreira or Guendouzi next to him, it gives Xhaka more space and time to supply ammunition from the deep with his long balls.
With Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere plying their trades elsewhere, Unai Emery is short of midfielders who can orchestrate the play and set the tempo from deep. The Swiss maestro is someone who can quicken the pace of the game with his penetrative and probing passes and long balls.
Xhaka offers control and poise. His telepathic understanding with Mesut Ozil is vital in the smooth transition from defense to attack not to forget the goal threat he carries from distance.
Unai Emery’s preferred style of playing out from the back needs a midfielder capable of transitioning the play in a smooth and effective manner and Xhaka is the midfielder capable of doing the same.