Mikel Arteta has tasked Granit Xhaka with occupying more advanced midfield positions in recent Premier League games to make Arsenal ‘more unpredictable’, via football.london.
Xhaka has often been the quintessential anchor of the Gunners’ engine room over Arteta’s tenure at the Emirates Stadium. His presence in the position has brought structure to their system and has often served as a third centre-half when their full-backs push up the wings.
But Xhaka proved to be a somewhat surprise attacking threat as Arsenal beat Watford 3-2 at Vicarage Road last week. He was even the most advanced played in a red jersey when Cedric Soares sought to float a cross into the Hornets’ area just after the half-hour mark.
It was not a sight Arsenal fans are used to, with Xhaka bursting beyond a centre-half to get into the six-yard area. The 29-year-old also showed glimpses of his newfound freedom to attack against Wolves last month. That night, he helped to a tight triangle in the final-third.
Arsenal have won possession higher up the pitch and forced opposition sides to sit deeper with Xhaka’s new role. Although the 98-cap international is yet to add an end product to the position. He is still to score so far this season and recorded his only assist in December.
Arteta claims advanced Xhaka role is to make Arsenal ‘more unpredictable’
Arteta has now explained that Xhaka has begun to occupy more attacking positions in their midfield as he believes the change can give Arsenal more variables and keep the opposition on their heels for longer, trying to work out what the Gunners want to do when on the ball.
“I wouldn’t say that it would make him comfortable,” Arteta said. “But sometimes you have to take players from their comfort zone and open a different door to explore how the team will react [and] what the opposition will do when you do certain things.
“Then it’s more unpredictable because if not, it’s pretty easy to prepare against the same opposition.”
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