Arsenal legend Martin Keown has highlighted the place his previous membership might have a problem immediately.
The Gunners are again in Premier League motion this afternoon after they face strugglers Newcastle United within the 2pm kick-off, recent off the again of a 2-1 defeat to Villarreal within the Europa League on Thursday.
With European qualification now not sensible within the league, the conflict with the Magpies may function a vital piece of preparation ahead of the semi-final second leg with the Yellow Submarine on Thursday.
And Keown believes there may be one key lesson Mikel Arteta’s males can be taught from that first leg defeat with a ‘key difficulty’ mendacity within the left-back place.
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“A key difficulty, which could be highlighted towards Newcastle, is at left again,” Keown informed the Daily Mail.
“Granit Xhaka doesn’t need to be getting the blame. I really feel for him. He’s a midfielder being informed to play at left again by his supervisor in Kieran Tierney’s absence.
Keown needs Bukayo Saka at left-back fairly than Xhaka. He performed nicely there towards Sheffield United, and Arsenal saved their first clear sheet for 13 video games.
“But he has since been left uncovered by higher-quality opponents, resembling Richarlison for Everton and Samuel Chukwueze for Villarreal.
“He may now face Newcastle’s in-form Allan Saint-Maximin.
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“Let’s not even go into how a membership like Arsenal, whose homeowners needed them within the closed-shop European Super League, finds itself and not using a back-up left again.
“Villarreal boss Unai Emery recognized Xhaka at left again and Dani Ceballos on the left of a midfield two because the weak space in Arteta’s facet on Thursday.
“Emery confirmed his expertise towards a workforce he knew nicely, whereas Arteta confirmed his inexperience. If Tierney is match, he walks into the workforce for that all-or-nothing second leg. If not, Saka must play at left again, a place the place has excelled beforehand for membership and nation.
“If Arteta sticks with 4-2-3-1, Xhaka can then return alongside Thomas Partey in midfield, the place he has been a lot improved this season.”
