MY ACCOUNT
Granit Xhaka will not be available for Arsenal tonight — and it might just be a blessing in disguise.
The Switzerland international was sent off for a clumsy last-man challenge on Diogo Jota in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool.
His suspension for the reverse fixture leaves manager Mikel Arteta desperately short of midfield options.
But Xhaka has been a divisive figure for the Gunners fanbase since his arrival — and whether his strengths outweigh his weaknesses remains up for debate.
Ahead of this evening’s encounter, we consider how the North Londoners can set up without Xhaka and assess some potential long-term replacements for the 29-year-old.
The midfield conundrum
Arsenal are almost certain to have just one senior central midfielder available for tonight’s fixture.
Mohamed Elneny is at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Thomas Partey having returned from Cameroon following Ghana’s early exit from the tournament but unlikely to feature.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was recently loaned out to Roma, leaving just Albert Sambi Lokonga.
With a number of other injury doubts to contend with, Arteta’s options are limited as he considers his tactics for the upcoming match.
White into midfield?
One possible solution to the Gunners’ problems is to move centre-half Ben White into midfield alongside Lokonga, with Rob Holding taking his place next to Gabriel.
White has played in the centre of the park on several occasions for both Brighton and Leeds and, as a ball-playing central defender with a tendency to dribble into midfield from the back, his skillset lends itself well to a more advanced role.
The 24-year-old ranks eighth in the Arsenal squad for take-ons completed (nine) — the only natural central midfielder at the club with more is Partey (20).
This solution allows Arteta to fill the void without shuffling the pack too much and he praised White’s attitude after the first leg.
The Spaniard said: “He’s very demanding with himself, he’s really willing to learn and improve his game and he’s in the right place.”
Teenage kicks
Alternatively, Arteta could hand Charlie Patino, 18, just his second senior start in a semi-final.
Fellow academy product Miguel Azeez, 19, has also just been recalled from his loan spell at Portsmouth but Patino is likely to be ahead in the pecking order.
The pair are both natural central midfielders, which could be an attractive alternative to using a senior player out of position.
It would be a risky move but to start either player would be a tremendous display of faith from Arteta.
Life after Xhaka
Xhaka has now been sent off five times in his Arsenal career and the Basel native’s lack of athleticism and susceptibility to moments of rashness were perfectly summed up by his red card at Anfield.
Despite that, his passing range means he remains part of Arteta’s first-choice pairing.
There is little doubt that the club’s No34 can be a metronomic midfield presence when at his best but an ever-increasing number of errors have raised serious questions about Xhaka’s suitability as a regular starter at the Emirates.
Possible replacements
The Gunners are clearly in the market for a midfielder this winter given their current lack of options.
However, Arsenal may be forced into landing a short-term fix and waiting until the summer to land a permanent replacement for Xhaka should they choose to move on from him.
Bruno Guimaraes is among the names that the club appear to have a real interest in and the North Londoners have reportedly been keeping tabs on the Brazilian since before his transfer to Lyon.
The 24-year-old is a high-volume, progressive passer who is active defensively and has an impeccable disciplinary record — he has never been sent off for the Ligue 1 outfit.
Leicester’s Youri Tielemans has also been mentioned as a possibility with his contract expiring at the end of next season.
However, the Belgian is a more offensive player, contributing a greater amount in the final third. He has five goals in 15 Premier League appearances this term but is less involved in winning back possession for the Foxes.
Arsenal will have to make do without Xhaka or his eventual replacement tonight, though, as they bid to make it into the Carabao Cup final for the first time since 2018.
