Hoddle believes Xhaka could remain Arsenal’s left-back long-term

Former Tottenham player and manager Glenn Hoddle believes that Granit Xhaka can be Arsenal’s long-term left-back.

The Switzerland international finished on the left side of defence against Leicester City on Monday, having replaced the struggling Stephan Lichtsteiner, with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolašinac out injured.

He then followed that up by playing in the same position from the off against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday.

Talking to BT Sport, former England manager Hoddle believes that the former Borussia Mönchengladbach man may have accidentally discovered his best position. As quoted by Arsenal Mania, Hoddle said:

It’s a lot simpler for him (at left-back).

When he’s got the ball, everything’s inside him. Unless he’s got a flying winger that he’s got to get tight on early, it’s a lot simpler, everything’s inside.

In midfield, the centre of midfield, you’ve got 360 degrees, everything’s going on around you.

You’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head and he hasn’t got that I’m afraid.

Playing left-back you can see everything, defensively and he’ll get time on the ball.

Your left and right-back nowadays push on and he will enjoy playing that.

Whether long-term he can be the answer for that, he’s got a lovely frame on the back post, as a centre-back you’d love him on the back post clearing headers away.

So he might actually end up as Arsenal’s left-back.

Despite Hoddle’s comments, Xhaka had finally begun to shine in the centre of midfield this season, with the signing of Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria proving to be the catalyst.