When Granit Xhaka was handed a contract extension by Arsenal back in June, new head coach Unai Emery said he was “delighted” about the prospect of working with the Switzerland international.
Two games into the season, though, Xhaka can be added to the growing list of issues that Emery has to sort out. The midfielder’s performances against Manchester City and Chelsea didn’t show any sign at all of development, and Emery decided to take him off at half-time at Stamford Bridge in favour of newcomer Lucas Torreira.
With Torreira ready for his first start and fellow new signing Matteo Guendouzi impressing so far, Xhaka’s place in the team is under serious threat. After starting 52 of Arsenal’s last 53 Premier League games — the most of any player during that stretch — he no longer has a clear role in the side.
Xhaka is not a natural defensive midfielder — that’s why Torreira was brought in — while both Guendouzi and Aaron Ramsey offer more pace and versatility as deeper-lying playmakers. But after the club gave him that contract extension (and spent £35 million on him two years ago), Emery can hardly give up on the player either.
So how to make best use of him? Here’s a look at the alternatives.
Play him next to Torreira as a deep-lying playmaker
Emery seems intent on using different formations this season depending on the opposition, which means several players — including Xhaka — could find themselves moving in and out of the starting lineup.
When Emery deploys Arsenal’s traditional 4-2-3-1 system, Xhaka could still form an effective partnership with Torreira as part of a central midfield duo. Under Arsene Wenger, Xhaka was tasked with being the more defence-minded of the two midfielders, usually next to the more free-roaming Ramsey.
But with Torreira taking up that role, Xhaka could find more room to use his skills as playmaker as his long balls over the top was often a dangerous weapon for the Gunners last season.
The problem is that Ramsey and Guendouzi both have their eyes on that role as well, and either are probably a better fit for Emery’s pressing style. However, since Torreira has only seen limited action so far, it’s impossible to say which player he would form the best partnership with.