Xhaka benefitting from role change for Champions League chasing Arsenal

"I think he can be a threat in the box now more than he has been in the past," former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre said last month. In a somewhat surprising twist, Silvestre was referring to Granit Xhaka. While few have really considered the Swiss midfielder a consistent attacking threat for the Gunners, Xhaka has undertaken a change in role for the north London side this season. 

Previously, Mikel Arteta had favoured a 4-2-3-1 setup, with Xhaka and Thomas Partey anchoring the midfield. However, the Spaniard has since switched to a 4-3-3, in part due to the addition of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. The Brazilian is one who drifts across the frontline in search of possession, and this opens up space for those in support to maximise. 

Usually, this movement would be maximised by wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, the two wide players looking to cut infield as a route to goal. Martin Odegaard is another who'd often seek to capitalise on the additional space and wreak havoc upon bewildered defenders, yet Xhaka has also been tasked by Arteta with helping support the offensive, with Partey instead needed to shield the backline. 

As such, Partey ranks top for tackles per 90 (3) and and fourth for interceptions per 90 (1) of all Arsenal players in the Premier League this season as the Ghana star effectively breaks up play, allowing Xhaka the freedom to get forward and support the offensive. The change in role under Arteta has certainly benefitted the Gunners, and crucially, Xhaka. 

After last week's Premier League postponements, Arsenal remain top of the table with 15 points to their name from the opening six matches. Xhaka has been key to their fine start to the 2022/23 season, with a WhoScored rating of 7.02 the sixth best for Arteta's side. While the 29-year-old has routinely come under scrutiny from sections of the Arsenal fanbase, Xhaka's change in role could prove the renaissance required to help win over the doubters. 

There has been a clear improvement to his attacking numbers compared to previous seasons, in that Xhaka's return of one goal and two assists matches his total for both metrics in the previous three campaigns. However, the most notable difference is that the number of tackles per 90 have dropped, whereas key passes per 90 has risen. 

0.8 tackles per 90 is Xhaka's lowest in a league campaign, while conversely; 1.8 key passes per 90 is actually his highest, and a return that matches captain Odegaard. That being said, Xhaka's new role is dependant on players being fit, crucially that of Partey. It's no coincidence that Xhaka's worst rated Premier League performances this season came in meetings with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Fulham, three games that Partey missed due to injury. 

With Partey absent, Xhaka had to adopt a more defensive role that meant Arsenal were far from their attacking best as they beat Villa and Fulham by a single goal, and fell to their first defeat of the campaign at United. Arsenal were far more eye catching going forward in wins over Leicester, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace when Xhaka was released from his shackles, safe in the knowledge that Arsenal wouldn't be caught out when he did get forward with Partey protecting the defence. 

In the three games Partey missed, either Albert-Sambi Lokonga or Mohamed Elneny started alongside Xhaka, and neither offer the same defensive awareness as the former Atletico Madrid man, so it was no shock to see the Switzerland international's performance level dip. The latter, though, is expected to be fit for Sunday's game against Brentford, and that is a big boost for Xhaka and Arsenal. 

For a player who has been chastised by the Gunners faithful on more than one occasion during his time at the club, Xhaka looks to have nailed down a specific role within the squad that is bringing out the best in the midfielder. While the likes of Jesus and Martinelli have drawn deserved praise, Arteta's decision to turn Xhaka into less of a '6' and more of an '8' in a 4-3-3 setup is proving a masterstroke that could prove crucial in Arsenal's push for a top four finish.