Let’s get one thing out of the way…Matteo Guendouzi is a fantastic player and has greatly improved arsenal. He has the fight, eye for a pass, and the capacity to be less complicated when he does not seem to be instead opting for the simple pass for the player in the better position.
The problem is not with Guendouzi’s qualities but his position. Guendouzi has been fighting with Torreira and Xhaka over a position in the first team and he seemed to have won the position after Xhaka was recently shunted to the left back position.
The problem of Xhaka in the left back position is that without adequate speed or defensive nous he has been left exposed which was especially obvious against Crystal Palace. Liverpool rely on their quick strikers and wingers and Xhaka always seems to get frustrated when defending against such players which would have resulted in one or two penalties or worse against Liverpool.
Without Guendouzi, Arsenal have no choice but to recall either of Monreal or Kolasinac, natural left backs to blunt Liverpool’s attacks, leaving Xhaka to spread play and start attacks from his natural position and giving arsenal the best chance to create goal scoring chances to win the game.
Xhaka might actually be the important player on the pitch against Liverpool. Only time will tell whether he is key or the weak link.
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