Glenn Hoddle told Optus Sport on Premier League Productions that he found it ‘strange’ that Granit Xhaka was playing at left-back for Arsenal on Sunday.
With Kieran Tierney facing a spell on the sidelines – possibly until the end of the season – Arsenal don’t have another bonafide backup option to fill that role.
Bukayo Saka has played that role before, but he was used further forward during Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Sheffield United, with the more experienced, Xhaka, filling Tierney’s void.
And Hoddle reacted to how Mikel Arteta tactically set up on Sunday, both with and without the ball.
“Xhaka, it’s strange,” said Hoddle about the £30 million midfielder. “They are playing three at the back when in possession.
“And then defensively they go into a four, with Xhaka playing an unusual (position).
On Arsenal keeping a clean sheet: “Well, physiologically it is (important). They put Xhaka in that left-back position when they defended, at times and then when they got on the ball they went into a three.
“But clean sheets breeds confidence, albeit against Sheffield United, who didn’t create too much. But the reason they didn’t create too much is that Arsenal had possession of the ball.”
It’s one thing doing that against bottom-of-the-table, Sheffield United, but it’s another doing it in a pressure-cooker of a game in the Europa League.
That is what will be needed on Thursday, and regardless of how Arsenal perform, all that is needed is progression.
If Arsenal fail to do that then Jose Mourinho might just have company in those in North London wanting their manager to get the sack.
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