Sitting in a room with Granit Xhaka for football.london before the start of the season ahead of the release of the first episodes of the All or Nothing documentary, the Arsenal midfielder struck a determined figure. However, it wasn’t evident in that moment that the midfielder we’ve seen this season would emerge.
Mikel Arteta has unlocked something different in Granit Xhaka this season and whilst his position shifted toward the second half of last season, he has taken another step at the beginning of this. Another assist today, which should have been two, sees him become an unlikely Fantasy Football asset but most of all an offensive benefit to this Arsenal side.
Yet, despite this, what was most telling about the transformation of the player was what was heard in the ground and through the speakers of the television sets of those sitting at home. It went something like this…
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“We’ve got… Granit Xhaka! We’ve got… Granit Xhaka! We’ve got… Granit Xhaka! Woah oo woah oo woah oo woah oo woah!”
Granted, the writing doesn’t do it justice but it shouldn’t be underestimated. At that moment in 2019, you know the one, Xhaka looked a man on his way out. Swearing at supporters in reaction to boos from the crowd after a poor display.
What we saw then was a player not yet connected with his club. What we see now is the player that so many rave about seeing when he performs for Switzerland.
Arteta has found his freedom. For many summers, Xhaka was linked with a potential transfer away from the club but the Arsenal manager made the decision to keep him and extend his deal.
Midfielders were linked to potentially replace him, but you’d be hard pressed to argue many, if any, have been better than Xhaka since those links. Even Youri Tielemans, who football.london understands remains of interest to Arsenal, does not get close to ousting Xhaka from the side.
For me, Arsenal’s priority this window needs to be a wide forward who can add the firepower Arteta referenced in his post-match interview, but second to that comes a deep midfield competitor. The gap between Xhaka and Thomas Partey to Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny is a concern.
Finding a player who can compete with them, is available, accessibly-priced and is open to a move is going to be incredibly difficult. I doubt it’ll happen this summer in all honestly, with the only business coming in that wide area my expectation.
If Arsenal are to achieve one of their best seasons they will need to rely therefore on two things. Xhaka and Partey staying fit and available and both Lokonga and Elneny proving many doubters wrong should they be called upon.
Coming back though to Xhaka to bring this full circle, the difficulty to find that midfield transfer remains a testament to his abilities as a player. But most of all, it is a joy to see the story of this divisive Arsenal character begin to reach its twilight with unity.
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