When Arsenal won the 2003-04 Premier League title, they were one of the strongest teams in England, rightfully earning the title of ‘Invincibles�? With an attack led by Thierry Henry and a defence manned by Sol Campbell, the Gunners managed 26 wins and 12 draws in their 38 league matches. However, a big key to their success was the presence of Patrick Vieira.

The Frenchman, who was also skipper for the side, was the perfect defensive cover for Arsene Wenger’s team, and he guarded the midfield with aplomb. His importance to the side was especially evident during the October and November of 03-04 when, with Vieira injured, they conceded more goals than usual.

Playing in the 4-4-2 formation gave the wingers Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg a chance to move forward, while Dennis Bergkamp moved back and partnered with Gilberto Silva if necessary. Arsenal is missing this kind of dedication in the middle of the park and it has brought about their steady downfall.

An empty Arsenal

With two losses in two games, the misery has piled on Mikel Arteta after Project Restart marked a disastrous beginning for the North London club. While a loss to second-placed Manchester City is somewhat forgivable given the history of the fixture, fans were fuming at home after the shock loss to Brighton and Hove Albion, especially after going one up.

Read | Arsenal: A project too spine-chilling for Mikel Arteta

The ire of the fans was tested right from the beginning of the match, with their in-form goalkeeper Bernd Leno getting blatantly fouled by Neal Maupay before the French striker added injury to insult with an injury-time winner. However, the problem in Arteta’s team lies deeper than the defensive line; it’s the lack of solidity in the middle of the park.

Flanked by pacy wingers like Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe, Arsenal have not had a player capable of manning the midfield since the days of Vieira. Players like Mathieu Flamini, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, and Mikel Arteta himself, have all been tried, but the Arsenal defensive problems are seemingly everpresent. And among the current crop, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi just aren’t cutting it.

As the Granit crumbles

Granit Xhaka was the closest to emulating their former French star and had seemingly found his best patch of form under Arteta before the suspension of the league. However, with an injury picked up early on in the match against Manchester City, it looks increasingly unlikely that the Swiss international will play for Arsenal again this season, leaving the remaining options of Torreira, Guendouzi, Joe Willock, Dani Ceballos and an outside shot for Mesut Ozil.

The new Spanish head coach reverted to Arsenal’s formation during the 2003-04 season while taking on Brighton, and it was seemingly working. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was playing just behind Alexandre Lacazette, and the wingers were making the overlapping runs perfectly. The midfield duties were handed to Ceballos and Guendouzi, with the former expected to attack while the latter would sit back.

Read | Arteta tells Arsenal players to keep their cool

The plan seemed to work in the first half; Guendouzi was responsible for two important interceptions in the opening minutes while landing quick balls to the flanks for Pepe and Saka. However, his work rate declined massively towards the second half, especially after Pepe opened the lead with a beautiful curler. Of his six interceptions, five were in the first half, while he lost possession thrice in the second half, including twice in his own half.

Partey time ahead for Arsenal

While the team looks in shambles currently, Arteta already knew the repercussions of taking the Arsenal job while at Manchester City itself. Approaching his first summer transfer window, it is imperative that Arsenal close the deal for the highly-linked Thomas Partey, who will add plenty of experience to the Arsenal squad.

Although the drop in the fortunes of the side will need to be arrested soon, the few differences in the team from before the suspension of the league is quite evident, and only time will tell whether Arteta's Arsenal can turn a tide. Although European football is a far off dream currently, the new times speak of a new future at the club

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ian Kington

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

After Granit Xhaka was booed off the field by his own fans when Arsenal faced Crystal Palace and stripped off the club’s captaincy, the end of his time at the club seemed near. While Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Torreira are other players that need to be credited for their recent form under new manager Mikel Arteta, the Swiss international deserves a special mention, especially because of his perseverance as well as versatility.

With many of the club’s ultras believing Xhaka should have been sold to Germany’s Hertha Berlin when they reportedly came calling with a bid of 40 million euros, Xhaka has found a new lease of life under Arteta. Burdened with a massive temperament, the former Borussia Monchengladbach captain arrived in England in 2016. Although he has received only two red cards �?in his debut season �?he has amassed over 30 yellow cards in three and a half seasons at the Emirates.

Read | Xhaka says he is ready to battle for Arsenal place

However, with higher standards to meet under the new manager, Xhaka’s toned down attitude has become evident in his performances. He has featured in 10 of Arteta’s 11 games this season, with Arsenal losing 2-1 at home against Chelsea being the only match he was forced to miss due to illness. A testament to his dedication was clear to the manager after Xhaka’s performance in Arsenal’s win over Manchester United at the turn of the decade.

After the game, Arteta was quick to appreciate Xhaka’s game, "I like everything about him. His commitment, I like the way he is, the way he lifts his profession, how focused he is. Every time I am talking, he is listening and is willing to learn. He is a great football player. The way we want to play, there are not many with his quality on the ball, his range of pass, so I am delighted to have him."

Read | Arsenal to offer Xhaka counselling after fan feud: Reports

The key reason for the faith in Xhaka is his ability to slot into either a left-back or centre back role when his team has possession. This gives freedom to makeshift wingback Bukayo Saka to make forward runs. Saka added another assist to his name against Olympiakos with an inch-perfect pass, setting up Alexandre Lacazette for the winner. While many legends including Robin Van Persie have lauded the youngster for his ‘world-class assist�? his runs are only possible because Xhaka possesses the ability to slot into Saka’s role during the need of the hour.

Arteta’s main objective when joining the club was not to bring results but to bring the fans back to the stadium by playing a brand of attractive attacking football. The Spaniard has built his pivot around Xhaka and the midfielder can finally stake his place as a midfield maestro for the club. 

Read | How is Mikel Arteta shaping Arsenal for the future

Xhaka was brought into the club as a temperamental 23-year-old midfielder but three seasons on, he has established himself as a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield, making 117 appearances for the Gunners. Under Arteta, however, the Swiss player has a chance to establish his identity as a leader in the middle of the park for the fans, as well as finally deliver on his promise of being the answer to Arsenal’s midfield crisis for the foreseeable future.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

Granit Xhaka may have been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy due to his public run-in with the club's fans but he says he will be staying and fighting for his place in the team.

The volatile 27-year-old Swiss international midfielder has not played since he mouthed an obscenity at a section of Gunners fans jeering him when he was substituted in the Premier League match with Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.

However, despite manager Unai Emery deciding he could not carry on as skipper -- a role he was given after a secret ballot of the players -- he told Swiss newspaper Blick he would not be leaving.

Read | Granit Xhaka stripped of Arsenal captaincy

Xhaka has had a fractious relationship with Arsenal supporters since his arrival from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach in 2016, costing the Premier League side a fee reported to be £38 million ($49 million).

"You can be sure that I'll keep fighting and putting myself out there in every training session," Xhaka said.

"I feel last week has been dealt with and I'm ready.

"My time at Arsenal has been very positive for a long time.

Read | Arsenal to offer Xhaka counselling after fan feud: Reports

"After a difficult start, I played a lot and overall I've had a great time at Arsenal.

"My family and I also feel very well in the city of London."

Xhaka, who has been linked with a  move to struggling Newcastle in the January transfer window, said the boos and jeers has not altered his views of the city or the club.

"I'll continue to stay positive," he said. "(To) give my all to an even greater extent and prove that I am an important part of this great team."

The 2-0 defeat by Leicester on Saturday left Arsenal with just one win in six Premier League games and eight points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.

Read | Hector Bellerin calls for Arsenal unity after Granit Xhaka tantrum

Xhaka and many of his teammates are now on a fortnight international break. Their next league game will be against second-from-bottom Southampton on November 23. 

Xhaka does concede the abuse hurt -- he claimed his emotions were running high because his daughter had received online abuse -- but said it was counter-productive for the whole team's morale.

"Insulting and swearing at your own captain will cause upset and a bad atmosphere for the team you are actually supposed to be supporting.

"That makes no sense to me and weakens the team's spirit."

Read | 'Devastated' Xhaka should apologise, says Unai Emery

He does not spare the online abusers either.

"What has changed through social media are phenomena such as 'sxxx storms' that can over-run you from one minute to the next," he said.

"Also new is the cloak of anonymity you can use to attack players without fear of consequences.

"What happened here is abnormal and excessive and there can be no justification for it."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Daniel Leal-Olivas

Arsenal manager Unai Emery confirmed on Tuesday that Granit Xhaka has been stripped of the club captaincy after an emotional outburst towards supporters.

The Swiss international swore and threw the captain's armband to the floor after being booed as he was substituted against Crystal Palace 10 days ago.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who led Arsenal for Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Wolves, will take over as captain.

Read | ‘Devastated�?Xhaka should apologise, says Unai Emery

Xhaka was not included in the squad for the Wolves match or Wednesday's visit to Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League.

"I was speaking with him this morning and also I decided he's not one of the captains in our group and I decided that and I told him this morning," Emery said. "He accepted my decision.

"We have now Aubameyang, Hector (Bellerin), (Alexandre) Lacazette and (Mesut) Ozil - they are the four captains, and first is now Aubameyang."

"I needed to take one decision, and now it is closed," Emery added.

Xhaka, 27, blamed death threats to his family for his furious response, saying he had reached "boiling point".

"My feeling of not being understood by fans, and repeated abusive comments at matches and in social media over the last weeks and months have hurt me deeply," he wrote on Instagram.

"People have said things like 'We will break your legs', 'Kill your wife' and 'Wish that your daughter gets cancer'.

"That has stirred me up and I reached boiling point when I felt the rejection in the stadium."

Xhaka had only been confirmed as captain by Emery in September after the Spaniard took a dressing room vote to decide on the skipper after the departures of Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech.

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Glyn Kirk

Granit Xhaka has been left "devastated" by the confrontation with Arsenal supporters on Sunday but still should apologise said Gunners manager Unai Emery on Tuesday.

Emery, though, would not be drawn on whether the 27-year-old Swiss international midfielder will remain the captain following his tantrum on being substituted in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.  

Xhaka -- who was voted captain by a secret ballot of his team-mates in the close season -- has enjoyed a fractious relationship with the Arsenal supporters since he joined in 2016.

It reached its nadir on Sunday when they booed him as he walked off with him cupping his hand to his ear and then apparently mouthing 'F**k off' in their direction before storming down the tunnel. 

"Yes (he should apologise)," said Emery, speaking on the eve of the Gunners' League Cup fourth round clash with Liverpool.

"We make mistakes, we need to apologise and we suggested for him to do that.

"Really, he knows he was wrong and he feels inside very deep.

"Now we are looking, seeing he is devastated and the first thing is to recover him.

"We need our family, friends and supporters to support us, love us.

"He is not feeling that with the supporters.

"But we are speaking with him 'first, be calm. Be close to your family and be close to us because we are your family'."

Read | Hector Bellerin calls for Arsenal unity after Granit Xhaka tantrum

Emery said Xhaka has the qualities required of a captain but refused to respond as to whether he remained in his post.

"At the moment I am not speaking and I don't want to think about that," the Spaniard said.

"It is not easy for him and for the team. We spoke yesterday, and Sunday night also, and this morning.

"He has the values, the respect in the dressing room, experience.

"He is captain of his national team and has the condition to be the captain.

"I decided that. The players respect that, and he was wrong on Sunday and it was not the response of a captain."

While he has been silent since the incident, Xhaka changed his Instagram profile picture on Tuesday from one in which he is sporting the Arsenal armband for one of him captaining Switzerland.

He will be taken out of the firing line for a few days at least as he will not travel to Anfield for the League Cup tie.

Read | What Unai Emery needs to focus on at Arsenal

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Daniel Leal-Olivas

Arsenal will offer counselling to Granit Xhaka after the Gunners captain found himself in trouble for swearing at his own fans, according to reports in the British press.

Xhaka cupped his ears and gesticulated to towards Arsenal fans who booed him when he was substituted during Sunday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

The 27-year-old appeared to shout "f**k off" at the crowd as he stormed towards the tunnel and pulled off his shirt.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery admitted Xhaka was wrong to react that way and refused to confirm if he would remain skipper

Xhaka has held three meetings with Emery since the incident but the club are putting the player's welfare ahead of any quick decision over his future.

Reports in the British media on Tuesday said counselling will be offered should Xhaka decide on such a course of action, with Emery describing the midfielder's mood as "upset, devastated and very sad".

Read | Hector Bellerin calls for Arsenal unity after Granit Xhaka tantrum 

It is also believed the outburst was a reaction to cumulative issues which have built up over time, including social media posts targeting Xhaka and his family.

His wife Leonita set her own Instagram profile to private after receiving abusive messages aimed at her husband, while Xhaka himself raised a few eyebrows by changing his profile picture on the platform from one where he is sporting the Arsenal armband to an image of him captaining Switzerland.

It is understood Xhaka has been made aware by the club of the benefits of offering an apology, but he is so far not in the right frame of mind to do so and is keen for any subsequent acknowledgement of wrongdoing to be genuine.

"At the moment, I am not speaking and I don't want to speak about that," Emery replied when asked if Xhaka could lose the captaincy over the issue.

"Now he is upset, devastated and sad. It is not only yesterday and today. He is feeling the supporters don't like him.

"His commitment with the club is a great commitment every time. He wants to help.

"His behaviour was perfect in training, with the group and with the club. He knows he was wrong.

"He was wrong and he feels it inside very deeply. But that is normal as a human."

Xhaka will not travel with Arsenal for Wednesday's League Cup tie at Liverpool.

Read | Dominant Liverpool await crisis-hit Gunners in League Cup

 

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Jasper Jacobs

Hector Bellerin has called for everyone at Arsenal to come together following club captain Granit Xhaka's tantrum on being substituted on Sunday during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

Bellerin, who is the Gunners third captain after Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is sidelined through injury but he took to Twitter to urge understanding and the team to unite.

Manager Unai Emery has said he will talk to Xhaka before he decides whether to strip the Swiss international midfielder of the captaincy.

The 27-year-old, who was made captain in the close season following a secret ballot of the players, exploded with fury when he was replaced in the second half of the Palace game.

He trudged slowly to the touchline while petulantly gesticulating to the fans who had cheered his substitution and were angrily urging him to get off the pitch quicker.

Xhaka's meltdown climaxed when he ripped off his shirt, appeared to shout f**k off at supporters and stormed past Emery straight down the tunnel to more derision from the stands.

Read: Time running out for Emery to show progress at Arsenal

"We are all humans, we all have emotions, and sometimes it's not easy dealing with them," tweeted Bellerin.

"It's time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are

We are all humans, we all have emotions, and sometimes it's not easy dealing with them. It's time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are together. #COYG pic.twitter.com/dkDI7M3xew

�?Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) October 28, 2019

Others have been less forgiving such as Arsenal legend Ian Wright especially with the club struggling for form with only two wins in their last eight Premier League matches.

"He's the captain," he told the BBC.

"He's got the responsibility of being able to take that on board because he's been voted in. You can't go like that.

"The amount of stick someone like Mesut Ozil has got I could understand if (he) throws his shirt down.

"He's the captain. The manager has got faith in him. He should be apologising. He should have apologised already.

"That's the guy they've chosen as captain and that's not captain's behaviour.

"Arsenal fans have shown a lot of patience with him and the performances he has put in. He owes them a lot more than that."

Read: What Unai Emery needs to focus on at Arsenal

Featured image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk