On October 27, 2019,Granit Xhaka’sArsenalcareer looked all but over.
After some disappointing displays and vocal criticism from supporters, things would come to a head during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Emirates when Xhaka’s slow exit while being substituted was greeted with anger from an already irate fanbase.
The then-captain would respond by swearing at supporters, taking off and throwing his shirt, and dashing his armband to the floor.
Unai Emery dropped Xhaka for subsequent games and stripped him of the captaincy, with the player reportedly lining up a move to Hertha Berlin in the January transfer window.
However, following Emery’s sacking and the eventual arrival of Mikel Arteta in the Emirates dugout, Xhaka has found his way back into the team, and crucially starting to perform a level far greater than his turbulent spell at the end of his former manager’s reign.
Arteta’s appointment has seen Xhaka miss just one game, a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea over Christmas which has so far been the Spaniard’s only loss in the ten Premier League matches he has overseen.
Deployed in his familiar defensive midfield position, Xhaka has looked far more comfortable underArtetain a 4-2-3-1 formation, with his manager choosing to rotate the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torrirera to partner him.
It appears as though the Swiss international is Arteta’s first choice for the longer term but the former Manchester City assistant boss is still clearly trying to figure out the best combination in that area of the pitch to help Arsenal progress.
At City, Arteta would work with Pep Guardiola on a far more fluid set-up with, normally, Fernandinho at the base of the midfield allowing the likes of David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne the freedom ahead of him.
In recent matches, Arteta has attempted something similar, starting matches with Dani Ceballos and Mesut Ozil ahead of Xhaka, leading the three league wins in a row before the suspension of football.
However, this won’t be a long-term solution as Ceballos is set to return to Real Madrid when his loan spell comes to an end in the summer.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey who would ideally come in to partner Xhaka in the middle.
Arteta is potentially seeking a ball-winner and carrier, freeing Xhaka to operate in a deep-lying playmaker role, utilising his long-range passing ability to release players in advanced positions.
To that end, the new manager is also looking at a long-term replacement for Ozil at number 10, who can serve as a focal point in a more advanced role, taking advantage of Xhaka’s distribution of the ball.
One name linked is Feyenoord’s young Turkish midfielder Orkan Kokcu, a skillful attack-minded midfielder who could develop under Arteta and benefit from a player like Xhaka behind him.
Arteta knows he has a rebuilding job at Arsenal and may need to try a number of strategies to find the one that works best for him, but for now, it appears as though Xhaka will remain a key part of the team he is trying to assemble for the future.
Source:Football.london
