{"id":214783,"date":"2018-08-27T05:45:19","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T09:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=214783"},"modified":"2018-08-27T05:45:19","modified_gmt":"2018-08-27T09:45:19","slug":"granit-xhaka-the-lpga-and-the-perfect-souffle-arsenals-unanswered-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2018\/08\/27\/granit-xhaka-the-lpga-and-the-perfect-souffle-arsenals-unanswered-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Granit Xhaka, the LPGA, and the Perfect Souffl\u00e9: Arsenal&#8217;s Unanswered Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a city of just over 220,000 people, the Canadian Women\u2019s Open tested the Saskatchewan waters \u2013 or in this case, plains \u2013 for the first time. It proved that the height of women\u2019s golf can succeed in a province that has only produced just one notable female golfer, but it also the tournament needs a place devoid of larger sporting competition in order to thrive. Like the perfect souffl\u00e9, it required the perfect conditions to rise, and even the slightest of can deflate it in an instant.<\/p>\n<p>To draw the comparison to <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/arsenalfootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Arsenal<\/a>, Saturday&#8217;s win over <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/clubs\/west-ham\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">West Ham<\/a> showed once again the value Granit Xhaka brings to the pitch, but it also clearly demonstrated the conditions he needs to work in to be effective.<\/p>\n<h1>Finding the Perfect Conditions for Granit Xhaka<\/h1>\n<p>According to Scott Willis\u2019 Offensive Value Added, Granit Xhaka contributed the fifth most going forward of any player in the match, and Aaron Ramsey was the only midfielder who offered more for Arsenal. Using Willis\u2019 Passing Valued added, Xhaka was the second most valuable distributor, just trailing Hector Bellerin.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en-gb\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Arsenal vs West Ham United Offense Value Added and xG Chain <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oYlMBNtjmW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/oYlMBNtjmW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Scott #Project24 Willis (@oh_that_crab) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/oh_that_crab\/status\/1033391207022452737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">25 August 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Bellerin, who has been a particularly strong crosser of the ball this season, has benefitted from an attack that relies heavily on cutbacks from the right flank. For his part, Xhaka has benefited from Arsenal\u2019s spells of possession.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_214799\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-214799\" style=\"width: 215px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-214799\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-215x300.png\" alt=\"Granit Xhaka all passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-215x300.png 215w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-768x1074.png 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-732x1024.png 732w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-696x973.png 696w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-1068x1494.png 1068w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167-300x420.png 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2167.png 549w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-214799\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Granit Xhaka all passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Xhaka is a key part of the Gunners attack, and more specifically their ability to dictate play as seen by his team-high .63 xGBuildup per 90 minutes last season.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_214800\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-214800\" style=\"width: 215px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-214800\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-215x300.png\" alt=\"Granit Xhaka second half completed forward passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-215x300.png 215w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-768x1074.png 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-732x1024.png 732w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-696x973.png 696w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-1068x1494.png 1068w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168-300x420.png 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2168.png 549w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-214800\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Granit Xhaka second half completed forward passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the first half against West Ham Xhaka completed 22 forward passes, but just four in the attacking third. In the second half, Xhaka completed 20 passes of which nine were in the attacking third and one into the penalty area.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_214801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-214801\" style=\"width: 215px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-214801\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-215x300.png\" alt=\"Granit Xhaka first half completed forward passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)\" width=\"215\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-215x300.png 215w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-768x1074.png 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-732x1024.png 732w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-696x973.png 696w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-1068x1494.png 1068w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169-300x420.png 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/08\/IMG-2169.png 549w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-214801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Granit Xhaka first half completed forward passes against West Ham, Aug 25, 1018 (Statszone)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As Arsenal began to take control of the play, Xhaka was allowed to distribute the ball to more dangerous areas, and to Arsenal\u2019s more dangerous forwards. His most common passing combination was Xhaka to Nacho Monreal (11), but that was closely followed by Xhaka to Ramsey. Of the ten passes Xhaka sent Ramsey\u2019s way, seven came in the second half.<\/p>\n<h2>Granit Xhaka Giveth, and Xhaka Taketh<\/h2>\n<p>Conversely, when Xhaka left the pitch after the first half against <a href=\"https:\/\/lwosonfootball.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/feeds\/chelseafootball-co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chelsea<\/a>, the Gunners went from being level on passing terms with the other London club to getting dominated 108-32 in the attacking third. They were outshot 15-3 in the second half\u00a0and ultimately succumbed to the Blues pressure.<\/p>\n<p>When Arsenal are firmly in possession of the ball Xhaka quickly becomes one of the Gunners more dangerous distributors, but take that away and Xhaka quickly becomes a liability. His poor reactions, lack of agility and penchant to throw himself into reckless tackles are directly responsible for a decent portion of the Gunners struggles in midfield.<\/p>\n<p>In that lies the problem: without Granit Xhaka the Gunners attack lacks the ability to transition the ball from middle third to the attacking third; with him, it opens up the team to quick counters.<\/p>\n<p>One potential solution is to start the trio of Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira.<\/p>\n<p>Emery has shown a clear desire to use a pivot in the midfield, and Xhaka\u2019s repeated starts and captain\u2019s armband show that the new manager is clearly fond of the Swiss midfielder, but if Xhaka is to be a stalwart of the Arsenal midfield, it may be time to move away from a pivot and shift to an inverted pyramid with Torreira at its base.<\/p>\n<p>Between Guendouzi and Torreira the Gunners have two solid ball retrievers and tacklers. They also have an engine in the young 19-year-old, who has already shown some aptitude for creative passes. Alongside Granit Xhaka, the duo could be an incisive force \u2013 the question becomes are the Gunners willing to sacrifice width, and one of the star players to try and find a solution to the Xhaka conundrum?<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo<br \/>\n<a id=\"HIDDPZtpTo1LvwkGE80z4Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/1023161196\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'HIDDPZtpTo1LvwkGE80z4Q',sig:'Kg4EwZpBr1sxFB3QwfR9AxOhIZ4WDfq8mu5R4FH6lgw=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1023161196',caption: true ,tld:'ca',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a city of just over 220,000 people, the Canadian Women\u2019s Open tested the Saskatchewan waters \u2013 or in this case, plains \u2013 for the first time. It proved that the height of women\u2019s golf can succeed in a province that has only produced just one notable female golfer, but it also the tournament needs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":312,"featured_media":214802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[155,32738,380,2660,2168,2581,948],"class_list":["post-214783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-premier-league","category-arsenal","tag-aaron-ramsey","tag-arsenal-fixtures","tag-granit-xhaka","tag-hector-bellerin","tag-lucas-torreira","tag-matteo-guendouzi","tag-unai-emery"],"modified_by":"Nat Goodlad, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}