XHAKA IMPRESSES AS ARSENAL LEFT-BACK

Switzerland national teamskipper Granit Xhakawas named as the left-back replacement for injured first choice Kieran Tierney ahead of the penultimate league game at Sheffield United to the surprise of many Arsenal fans despite the fact that he had previously played in that position on occasions.

The Arsenal fans were expecting backup fullback Cedric Soares or even impressive youngster Bukayo Saka as a left-back rather than Switzerland midfielder Xhaka. The decision to field the Switzerland player as a left-back didn't come back to haunt Gunners boss Mikel Artetaas his team dispatched bottom team Sheffield United with relative ease. Central striker Alexandre Lacazette scored twice either side of the half-time interval and either side of the second half strike from young forward Gabriel Martinelli to lead Arsenal to a 3-0 away win.

Xhaka and Arsenal were able to build on that big win over Sheffield United with another big victory overSparta Prague in the Europa League. Xhaka continued as a left-back for that crucial Sparta Prague clash. The Gunners needed to win the game or score at least two goals in a score draw to move ahead of the Czech Republic team and into the Europa League semis. Mikel Arteta and his boys were able to more than achieve their target with an emphatic 4-0 win over home team Sparta Prague.

Lacazette scored twice for the Gunners with the first goal coming from the penalty spot, while Ivorian international Nicholas Pepe was the recipient of the first Arsenal goal. Saka scored the other goal for the North Londoners.

Xhaka played at left-back for Arsenal for the third game running for the Fulham game at the weekend but it proved to be his most underwhelming of his three matches at left-back as the two teams played a 1-1 draw with the Gunners salvaging the home draw via the last gasp strike from Eddie Nketiah. England junior international striker Nketiah came off the bench in place of the injured Lacazette to score the Arsenal equaliser.