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Granit Xhaka: Arsenal star CAN be long-term left-back for Unai Emery - Glenn Hoddle
GRANIT XHAKA can be the long-term answer for Arsenal at left-back, claims former England and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle.
Xhaka played the final half an hour against Leicester on Monday at left-back.
The Gunners were without Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac due to injury and the experienced Stephan Lichtsteiner, naturally a right-back, was struggling on the left-hand side.
Xhaka impressed in the short time he played in the position and started tonight’s Europa League visit to Sporting Lisbon in that role.
Hoddle believes playing at left-back is much simpler for Xhaka than his more familiar central midfield role.
Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal LIVE
He might actually end up as Arsenal’s left-back
And the pundit reckons, if Xhaka impresses Unai Emery, he could find a new position under the Spaniard.
“It’s a lot simpler for him (at left-back),” Hoddle said on BT Sport.
“When he’s got the ball, everything’s inside him. Unless he’s got a flying winger that he’s got to get tight on early, it’s a lot simpler, everything’s inside.
“In midfield, the centre of midfield, you’ve got 360 degrees, everything’s going on around you.
“You’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head and he hasn’t got that I’m afraid.
“Playing left-back you can see everything, defensively and he’ll get time on the ball.
“Your left and right-back nowadays push on and he will enjoy playing that.
“Whether long-term he can be the answer for that, he’s got a lovely frame on the back post, as a centre-back you’d love him on the back post clearing headers away.
"So he might actually end up as Arsenal’s left-back.
Arsenal fans compare Granit Xhaka to Mattéo Guendouzi
“I don’t know, he might be (the long-term answer). Why not?
“When you go to a new club, I don’t think he will end up there because Monreal will end up there, but at the end of the day he might actually surprise the manager.
“There’s always, always, when a new manager goes in you find a new position for one or two players.
“It just might be Xhaka there, it simplifies his game.”