‘I spoke to him’: Arteta says ‘very intelligent’ Arsenal player was ‘hiding’ his qualities

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Mikel Arteta has spoken highly about Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and how he had been ‘hiding’ his attacking qualities.

The Arsenal boss has asked the 30-year-old to push further forward this season and it has worked a treat because the ‘very intelligent’ player has started to showcase his talents and threats in the final third.

Under previous managers, and during parts of Arteta’s reign, Xhaka was used deeper and expected to provide that protection to the backline.

But he had a rashness to his game because of his over-commitment and it would result in him getting a lot of stick because fans felt he was a liability.

That has now all changed because the more defensive-minded Thomas Partey stays deeper, whilst their former captain now cooks further forward.

Speaking to Jamie Carragher for an MNF Special on Sky Sports, Arteta spoke about Xhaka’s game and the conversations they had about wanting him to play further forward.

“I spoke to him at the end of the season and I told him ‘I need to unlock something in your brain because you are so comfortable and confident playing in this area (defensive third), but what you have forgotten is what is going to win us the game is here (attacking third)’’,” said Arteta. 

“The team now demands somebody here. Unless you unlock that, then you are going to have to do something about it and he took it straight away. 

“He’s a very intelligent player. He came in pre-season fitter than ever. Slimmer than ever. He knew, if we wanted to take the team to a different level, then we had to change his role because he knew that was coming and his qualities to play there.

“It’s to score more goals. Go more forward. But, at the same time, it’s to get the relationship because we want to empower the qualities that we have in the team. If you want to score more goals, then Martinelli has to play in the last line and he (Xhaka) needs to play wide because it’s his quality. 

“We believe he has those qualities (scoring and creating goals). Those qualities were there to be exploited and they were hiding. The team need those qualities very much. He is extremely intelligent and he has the physical capacity to constantly threaten and occupy those spaces.”

XHAKA’S TRANSFORMATION

Arsenal are sitting at the top of the Premier League table and if they were to do the unthinkable and secure glory, then it would be a story for the ages.

A club of Arsenal’s size should always be competing for top honours, but the last 15 years have been nothing short of a disaster.

But all of that is now starting to change under the stewardship of Arteta. Added to that, it would be pretty remarkable if Xhaka is the guy leading them to that title.

He may not don the captain’s armband anymore, but he is still the leader without that piece of cotton around his arm and it would be one of THE transformations of transformations in English football if he helps Arsenal to the Premier League title.