Against Brighton, Granit Xhaka made his 42nd consecutive Premier League start, raising questions about why Arsene Wenger is so insistent on playing him whatever the scenario.

2Why is Wenger so keen to keep starting him?

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Manager Arsene Wenger of Arsenal talks to Granit Xhaka during an Arsenal training session ahead of the Champions League Group A match between Arsenal and Basel at London Colney on September 27, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

A large part of Wenger’s loyalty to the midfielder is thanks to Xhaka’s hard-working attitude.

In May of last year, the boss told Arsenal Player: “[Xhaka] turns up every day in training with full commitment. He has a very good focus, every single day. He never misses a training session and that’s certainly why he has improved throughout the season.”

Clearly, the 68-year-old values that work ethic highly.

The decision to keep playing Xhaka also has something to do with the fact Arsenal struggled to make chances last year without him. The team only won one of the last four league matches without him in the starting XI.

If you cast your minds back to November 2016, when Xhaka was last on the bench, for Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United, you might remember that the side Wenger put out that day didn’t manage a single shot on target until the 89th minute.

Fortunately, Olivier Giroud scored it and won the team a point.

The likes of Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin (now at Valencia) and Jack Wilshere just don’t/didn’t make enough chances, and Arsenal have trouble creating already without removing more creativity from the side.

It’s easy enough to suggest dropping Xhaka, but hard to pick out someone else in the squad who really deserves his place.

His midfield rivals need to pick up their game and prove they’re worth selecting.

Hopefully then Wenger will finally think about rotating for the matches in which Xhaka is struggling.

Next