Granit Xhaka was Arsenal's hero against PSV Eindhoven, scoring the goal which helped confirm the Gunners will still be in Europe after the turn of the year.
The Swiss international started the game as captain with Martin Odegaard among the substitutes, and delivered the only goal of the game against Ruud van Nistelrooy's visitors. The Premier League leaders are now guaranteed to finish in the top two in their group, and a point in Eindhoven on October 27 will ensure they avoid a play-in round before the last 16.
Xhaka has thrived in a more advanced role this season, threatening in the final third even before his performance against the Dutch side. And former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was one of those left eating their words after the display.
“What the folks at home won’t know is that every time he [Xhaka] was creeping forward, we were listening to Martin shouting: 'Get back! Get back! You’re supposed to be helping Partey deeper on the pitch',” BT Sport presenter Matt Smith said.
Xhaka's goal may have made the difference, but Keown still had questions over the 30-year-old's performance. And the pundit, who was part of Arsenal's last squad to win the Premier League, explained his stance.
“In that role, he’s being given a lot more licence to go forward," Keown said. "In the old days it used to be box-to-box.
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"Now we think of players sitting deep and those bombing forward," the 56-year-old continued. "So it’s choosing the right moment and against this opposition he knew he could gamble a bit.
“What you want is that balance. There was a little sniff that PSV might get something there, but he got away with it. That’s what he’s there for - can he get forward and get a goal? But don’t give one away at the other end.”
It was Xhaka's third goal of the season, and his first in the Europa League campaign. He also netted in the Premier League against Leicester and Tottenham, and has three assists to his name in the league.
Xhaka is under contract at Arsenal until 2024, with the club holding an option to extend the deal by a year. While he is one of the older members of the squad, he also adds experience to an otherwise young group - one of the youngest in the entire league - and this could be considered an asset.
It's an interesting one, if they're successful and they win a trophy he'll get a contract," Keown said. "Ordinarily, he'd be out of the door and someone else coming in. But he's an important player and he's showing that now."
