Arsenal’s new Xhaka is not expected to start again this season

Topics are decided on a temporary basis. There are many of them for Arsenal this season.

Against Everton, it was a late solo goal by Max Dowman, who became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, that caused a stir. This weekend was joined by Leandro Trossard, David Raya and VAR.

The Gunners are in charge of the set-piece this season and it was a dead ball that their hopes of winning the league almost vanished.

The aforementioned Raya came out to look for West Ham’s corner but failed to catch the ball. Arsenal then failed to clear and Callum Wilson bundled the ball over the line. There was pandemonium inside the London Stadium but it didn’t last long.

While the Gunners are fighting for silverware, the Irons are hoping to maintain their run in the top flight. That’s why Sunday’s VAR call was one of the biggest in English football history.

For the Hammers, they were on the wrong side of things. Arsenal are made to thank their lucky stars. Wilson could have scored but it was ruled out after West Ham striker Pablo was fouled by Raya.

While that may not have gone down well with neutrals, there was no doubting the nature of Mikel Arteta’s side’s 1-0 victory.

How Trossard and Raya helped Arsenal

As Raya remarkably kept his 18th clean sheet of the campaign on Sunday, he worked hard enough to defend it.

The hosts did not open Arsenal easily but the Spanish goalkeeper stood up when it mattered most to show exactly why he is celebrated as the best glove in the division.

One of the defining moments of the game came deep into the second half when West Ham should have opened the scoring. Midfielder Mateus Fernandes came into the box, took a few touches and the goal was at his mercy, he really should have found the net.

But, Arsenal’s number 1 stood strong, didn’t fall down and instead made a top-drawer that could have just won Arsenal the title.

If that had gone in, the Gunners would have been against it. Instead, they were able to come together and find a winner with Trossard.

The Belgian had a tricky 2026 and that’s putting it mildly. Coming into this game, the 31-year-old had not scored a goal in 25 consecutive games. It was the longest drought of his Arsenal career.

However, this goal was the most important and timely since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

The goal may have been scored by a defender but it was about Martin Odegaard coming into his own position. Like Trossard, the Norwegian had a troubled campaign but presented a reminder of just how good he was. The composure the club captain showed inside the penalty box to create a chance to shoot his teammate was impressive.

It sounds like a lot of players who have been out of form will really come to the party at the end of the season but sadly that is not true for everyone.

Arsenal’s new Xhaka is not expected to start again this season

In recent weeks this squad of players has really come to the fore. After cooling off in the Carabao Cup final, the Gunners returned to the pitch and were thankful for their attack.

Last weekend Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka were back between the goals in an attacking game that was one of the best teams all season.

Combine that with Trossard’s new form and the return of Myles Lewis-Skelly and it feels like new life has been breathed into the Gunners.

Just to say this, the return of Lewis-Skelly felt like bad news for Martin Zubimendi who revealed on Sunday why he has not started the last three games now.

Zubimendi did not start again on Sunday but was introduced earlier than Arteta would have liked when Ben White came off injured in the first half. That’s when the whole game changed.

Until then Arsenal were comfortable but when the Spanish midfielder entered the fray, Declan Rice switched to right back, it led to all sorts of problems.

This midfielder ended up being pushed to the side every time and most of it was caused by Zubimendi. In fact, the arrival of summer did not enter the game, especially one touch less than Raya. He was surprisingly sent off in the second half having only been on the field for 39 minutes.

Why was he withdrawn? However, it was a strategy in an attempt to get another attacker in Kai Havertz on the pitch but the truth is that the former Real Sociedad man did not give anything in the middle of the park.

There was a moment in the second half that summed up his cameo in particular. As Arsenal pushed forward, the Spaniard had a simple pass to Eberechi Eze on the right who was ready to burst forward but overplayed the ball.

A few months ago, Zubimendi started to really go downhill. He looked reliable and before last week’s game against Fulham, he had played more minutes than any other outfielder in the team.

Maybe it was a surprise to see him kicked out of the team. Indeed, in the first leg of the clash with Atletico the 27-year-old looked back at his best in a more advanced role. A key tweak in recent games from Arteta has been to move Rice as a number 6 with Zubimendi and now Lewis-Skelly as an 8. It’s a change that has worked well, with journalist James Benge highlighting that the Spain international looks a bit like Xhaka in that situation.

In the first half of their 1-1 draw with Atleti in Madrid, he wrote: “There is something interestingly retro about Arsenal’s formation, the defensive midfielder separating the defenders so that the full-backs can get forward. Zubimendi, meanwhile, is almost playing the low Xhaka role.”

At times, the £60m arrival looked like the Swiss in his Arsenal days, calling plays, breaking possessions but also participating effectively in the final third.

However, after a poor performance coming off the bench at the London Stadium, he should not start again this season, not even in the Champions League final at the end of the month.