It was the ultimate redemption story for Granit Xhaka and his Arsenal career. His rise was nothing short of remarkable, starting from his almost being pushed out of the club to become one of Mikel Arteta’s most trusted players. However, Arsenal has been searching for a suitable replacement to replace him since his departure in July 2023.
Arteta tried Kai Havertz, and his technical ability and runs late into the box were an attempt at replicating Xhaka’s attacking presence. Havertz was however more suited to a forward role, and that experiment was short-lived. But elite defensive midfielder Declan Rice was also tested further up the pitch before being brought back into his natural spot. Mikel Merino, the player on paper that seemed like a great fit, had just come then and still hasn’t been consistent.
Thus, is there a potential long-term solution to this once the midfield is still crying out for the perfect Xhaka replacement?
The Mikel Merino Gamble: A Work in Progress
When Mikel Merino arrived, Arsenal fans were cautiously optimistic. He was a modern midfielder, big, could pass and had defensive awareness. However, his transition in English football has been slow. He arrived late in the summer, missed preseason, and then suffered injuries.
Merino’s performances have been inconsistent. While it’s a role, he hasn’t combined attack and defense with the same balance that Xhaka managed. His lack of goals, combined with the fact he failed to control the game from his deep position, questions whether he was the right signing.
Further, Arteta has evolved his tactical demands for the No. 8 on the left, but he still wants a box-to-box midfielder. Young talents such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly come in at that point.
Enter Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal’s Hidden Gem
Myles Lewis Skelly, 18, is a talent who has proved himself 100 per cent worthy of those opportunities and won’t stop trying. Originally a left back, Lewis-Skelly — like so many players at City — has displayed versatility, not only freewing with ease in to midfield but also in forming partnerships with other front men. With the composure and technical ability of a seasoned player, this boy is fully exciting prospect for the future.
Against Manchester City, he showed intelligence beyond his years, drifting into dangerous areas, linking up with Rice and Trossard, making openings himself. There is still enough to suggest that a player equipped with the ability to take possession and advance play with confident ball progression is ready for bigger responsibilities.
While his physicality and defensive presence are still in the early stages, this kid is untouchable. But nurtured properly, Lewis-Skelly could be Arsenal’s long-term answer to left, central and defensive midfield.
Xhaka 2.0? Not Quite, But Close
Lewis-Skelly isn’t (yet) Xhaka; now be real. Perhaps a little bit more attack-minded but a bit less decisive in defense, he’s a bit more agile. Nevertheless, his creativity, movement and composure imply he could turn into an elite midfielder capable of replicating what Xhaka did (or better).
As Lewis-Skelly approaches his first appearance, Jorginho and Thomas Partey are running out of career chances at Arsenal, and he may have to step up. The potential for him to blend physicality, defensive discipline and attacking aptitude will make him a future star.
My Take on Arsenal’s Midfield Puzzle and Xhaka
If I’m honest, Arsenal’s midfield situation is as if trying to find a replacement for your favorite broken coffee mug; each new one seems off. He was more than a midfielder, although Xhaka was also a leader, a warrior, and also, frankly, a walking red card. However, he provided Arsenal with what they desperately needed—balance.
Lewis-Skelly gives me the most excitement, as Merino is still adapting sometimes and better suited in attack, but Havertz. He has the confidence; nothing pulls him down, and he has the skill and intelligence to thrive. Xhaka never said he didn’t want to succeed or to do things differently; he never said that he wouldn’t be a Xhaka clone, but does Arsenal even need that? Perhaps, perhaps, they may have stumbled across something better. Something modern and flexible—not a midfielder, but a form of midfielder—who can take the team forward in a new way.
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