Ian Wright urges Mikel Arteta to make tactical shift with two Arsenal players

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Ian Wright, while speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast, has urged Mikel Arteta to stop playing Granit Xhaka at left-back and utilise Arsenal defender Cedric Soares.

Arteta has opted to overlook Cedric frequently in recent weeks, with the Portuguese full-back not featuring in any of his side’s last four Premier League games or their Europa League semi-final first-leg defeat at Villarreal.

Instead, Xhaka has been called on to start in place of the injured Kieran Tierney (Guardian), with the natural holding midfielder operating on the end of the Gunners’ backline in each fixture that the Scotland international has so far sat out.

But Xhaka has struggled to thrive in the role of late and saw his defensive flaws put under the spotlight against Everton and Villarreal, having relentlessly been unable to contain the threat posed by Richarlison or Samuel Chukwueze.

Wright is desperate to see Arteta realise the error in continuing to play Xhaka in defence and has urged the Arsenal boss to recall Cedric for Thursday’s nights second-leg clash with the Estadio de la Ceramica natives, as his former side seek to overturn a 2-1 deficit.

“Ideally, for me, you play Cedric Soares at left-back and put Xhaka back into midfield. He can keep the ball and keep it safe and give the pass that we need,” the Gunners icon said.

“It does not make me comfortable seeing Xhaka at left-back and you could see with the first goal [vs Villarreal] how easily they went by him. It’s not his thing, it’s not where he should be.”

TBR’s view:

Wright’s concerns with Xhaka at left-back are very well placed after underwhelming displays against Everton and Villarreal, but it remains to be seen if Arteta will adhere to the advice having stuck with Arsene Wenger’s £35million (Daily Mail) signing at Newcastle last week.

The St. James’ Park affair could act as the final nail in Xhaka’s left-back coffin, though, as he was woefully exposed by the pace of Allan Saint-Maximin, who looked threatening every time the Magpies’ star forward ran in sight of the goal.

Arteta also admitted that Cedric has been ‘a bit unfortunate’ to not be given more opportunities to feature of late (football.london), and could look to reward his patience with a key role when the Gunners strive to book their place in the Europa League Final.