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ALex Iwobi, the Arsenal striker, was quick to make his point of view in the wake of Thursday's Europa League walk against Bate Borisov. Asked about Mesut Ozil's controversial comeback on the side, Iwobi did not hesitate to jump off the metaphorical barrier. "We scored three goals because he played," he said.
As a statement, it was indicative of the support that many players brought to Ozil, ostracized but inconsistent. But it was also a eulogy that could easily have been addressed to Granit Xhaka, another left-handed intriguer who does so much to control the unfolding of the matches for Unai Emery's side.
Ozil still being unable to get a regular spot in the starting lineup, Xhaka is arguably the only player on the Arsenal team to be able to dictate the speed of a match. Emery is a trainer of blood and thunder, a staunch supporter of tackles on the sidelines, but he also wants a "control" to the extent of aggression. Xhaka, who did not participate in the battle, and who scored two of Arsenal's three goals Thursday, played a key role in the season's efforts.
This does not help Xhaka's public relations cause that his true value to Arsenal is more obvious when he is absent. The 26-year-old missed three successive games before his return last week – against Cardiff, Manchester City and Huddersfield – and it shows. Against Cardiff and Huddersfield, in particular, Arsenal was torn and disjointed, despite the obvious gulf of quality between the teams. There was a lack of game management and a notable lack of smart possession.
Without Xhaka in the group, Arsenal achieved a significantly lower number of pbades per game (467 with him, 397 without) and has significantly less (59% with him, 53% without). They also have fewer shots without Xhaka and concede more shots on their own goal when he is not playing.
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