The striker’s comeback led the Swiss midfielder to regain his scoring touch at a key moment
Arsenal still have games to navigate in the naming race, and Sunday’s game at Anfield looks like a definite fixture.
They haven’t beaten Liverpool in the Premier League for more than a decade, and their last victory was in 2012, when Mikel Arteta made his midfield debut.
In seven away games against Liverpool in the league since Jurgen Klopp was appointed eight years ago, Arsenal have lost 25-7 on aggregate to the home side. There have been punitive defeats, of which Arteta is well aware.
Before last season’s red half of Merseyside, he had his players exercise with speakers on the side of the pitch shouting You will never walk alone. The idea was that it would help the team prepare mentally for the atmosphere at Anfield, but Arsenal suffered a 4-0 defeat that ended a 10-match unbeaten streak.
Eight points ahead of Manchester City at the top, the Gunners will be Liverpool’s bursting bubble this weekend.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka said: “No matter how their season goes, they are damaging and, at Anfield, a very complicated team. But we have enough confidence to win there. That is what we will try to do. That’s why we’re going, so let’s see if we get the 3 points back.
United: Granit Xhaka is a tougher scoring force for Arsenal when Gabriel Jesus plays
No wonder Xhaka is so full of confidence. After scoring in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Leeds, the Swiss has scored 4 goals in his last five games for club and national team.
His return to form is timely. Adding goals to their game was a big component of Arsenal’s fortunes at the start of the season, but they had dried up. After scoring 4 goals in his first 15 games, Xhaka played 21 games without one.
He ended that streak on March 16, scoring against Sporting in the Europa League, and has rediscovered his scoring touch now that Gabriel Jesus has compatibility and is back on the side.
Five of his seven goals for Arsenal this season came when Jesus was on the pitch, while the other two came when Leandro Trossard scored a false nine.
Xhaka thrived in the area created through Jesus and Trossard, which had not been the case when Eddie Nketiah, a poacher played in the penalty area.
Reunited with Jesus, Xhaka is in a position to shine again in an attack that may go a long way to deciding the pursuit of Arsenal’s name.
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