Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has constantly divided the opinions of the club’s fanbase over his contribution to the game. While a huge chunk believes he’s a liability, an unpopular opinion suggests the Swiss anchor midfielder is the engine room of Arsenal’s midfield and Arteta’s game plan.

The 29-year-old star joined Arsenal with the reputation of a potential world-class midfielder. He quickly became popular among visitors of australia online casino sites for his unique ability to score goals from outside the 18-yard box. He was soon nicknamed “Xhaka-boom”. Despite his inconsistency in the middle of the pack, he’s regularly played under the last three managers of Arsenal, which is an indication of how good he is.

This season, Xhaka alongside Thomas Partey has been a key player for Arsenal. His ball retention ability is one of the major reasons the Gunners have outplayed most of their opponents. He’s garnered a staggering 70.95 passes per game on average – one of the best in the league and an indication of his quality involvement in the middle of the pack.

With Xhaka sitting in front of the back four of Arsenal, it gives Partey the freedom to roam the length and breadth of the pitch. In addition, Xhaka has 63% tackle success, meaning it is hard for opponents to attack the club. He makes it seamlessly easy to transition from midfield to attack when combining with the likes of Emil Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard.

The star midfield hates to lose a game, so you find him always cheering his teammates on and off the pitch. Despite being stripped of the club’s captaincy, Xhaka has remained a leader.

Arsenal are expected to bolster their squad at the end of this season. Even if they sign another midfielder, it would be a player that will understudy Xhaka. At 29, he still has a lot to offer like best uk online casino and he’s been admired by Arteta since he was assisting Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Gunners are currently in the fourth position on the log, if they are going to finish the season in that quarter of the table, Xhaka must remain fit. An injury to the player will likely scupper the chances of the club at Champions League qualification.