According to Mirror, Arsenal are ready to offer Granit Xhaka to Borussia Monchengladbach in order to sign Denis Zakaria. The Swiss international is expected to leave the Emirates in the upcoming January transfer window, and the Gunners are prepared to use him a sweetener to secure the services of Zakaria. And in this article, we will discuss how this swap deal could benefit and improve the Arsenal midfield.
Better midfield coverage
The main problem with Xhaka was the lack of substance he offered in the middle of the park. As a defensive midfielder, he was tasked with the responsibility of providing the cover for the backline as well as cutting off opponent’s passing lanes in midfield.
However, his lack of temperament and composure saw him make numerous errors. Xhaka’s passing was also quite ineffective as he barely helped Arsenal complete transition from midfield to attack. As a result, Arsenal have appeared over-reliant on the services of Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos this season.
Zakaria, in contrast, could be an excellent addition in midfield. He can provide support to Guendouzi using his technical prowess and excellent anticipation that allows him to intercept key passes in the middle of the park. Furthermore, his ability to carry across the final third means he can ease the transition play.
More tenacity and aggression
Xhaka is no doubt one of the most aggressive players in the Premier League. But, his lack of temperament and focus means he is almost ineffective in the second line of press. And that’s where Zakaria could come in.
The Gladbach midfielder is an excellent athlete and can cover a lot of ground. That means he could be an excellent addition to Arsenal’s pressing unit in midfield. His willingness to close down opponents coupled with his ability to read the game would improve the club’s defences and make them much more vigilant.
Better offensive support
Zakaria is not only known for his passing, stamina or tenacity but also his ability to provide additional support going forward. The Swiss international loves to make driving runs into the final third and team up with attackers. He has already scored two goals and provided one assist in eleven matches so far.
At Arsenal, Zakaria could be deployed alongside Ceballos and Guendouzi, forming an excellent midfield trio that could not only provide transition but also creativity to the table. Hence, Arsenal should definitely go all out to sign Zakaria, who is a definite upgrade over Xhaka.
