20 Mar 2022 06:32:08
Arteta has been deploying Xhaka up field as a left sided 8. It has helped Xhaka and has also helped bring the best out of Partey.

It has helped Xhaka by limiting his errors, potential to get yellow booked. In fact, Xhaka can now go in unnoticed.

The bad side now is that he still offers very little going forward. The combination between saka and Odegaard down the right hand side is what Arsenal need from Martinelli and Xhaka, but for now, Xhaka is not that person.

Next season, I am looking up to three setups. We get a replacement for Xhaka, someone that can offer something similar in that 8 role and still do great defensively.

Secondly, we integrate Saliba . Then we get a back up right back or even someone that can challenge ToMiyasu, and get a lethal 9.

Arteta can go 4 1 4 1, same style now with a more aggressive and flexible Xhaka replacement. Or go 3 at the back, allowing tierney and tomiyasu to go forward, while saka and martinelli will be allowed to drift inside the box more often.

In the first half against villa, Xhaka was playing high up the pitch, while Partey ran the show alone. In the second half, Arteta moved him back central position alongside Partey.

I really like Arteta, he is very tactical and it is so good to see

1.) 20 Mar 2022
20 Mar 2022 10:33:05
I think Xhaka has been outstanding since his last red card.

2.) 20 Mar 2022
20 Mar 2022 11:00:22
He definitely has been Davy and H1822 is spot on it's since he has been playing further forward I have notice it early on. He should offer up himself to take shots at goal though to increase our chances .

3.) 20 Mar 2022
20 Mar 2022 23:24:25
Slight difference in approach re: Xhaka and Martinelli. Martinelli is a wide striker while Saka is a winger, so it makes a lot of sense (to me anyway) to let Xhaka sit deeper. Martinelli is more direct so the pass distance is longer, which suits Xhaka as it let's him come back and help Partey more. Odegaard and Saka play a lot of tight football, but it sucks Partey over to their side in case they lose it.

Biggest issue for me on that left side has actually been how ineffective Tierney has been, seems like a shadow of his former self but I can understand Arteta not wanting to break up that back 4.

4.) 22 Mar 2022
22 Mar 2022 05:10:37
Tierney is not allowed to move forward as like before. That is because Xhaka is not sitting back any longer. Tierney had a couple of ok games but in the last 3-4, he has been outstanding.

{Ed014's Note - totally agree mate, Martinelli has been running riot on the left so Tierney no longer has to, but is always there if needed.

Where a much more rounded and balanced team right now and that’s down to Arteta.