Mikel Arteta has made a big mistake, £21m 'leader' was so crucial to Arsenal

Although he’s not done a lot wrong since joining Arsenal, Mikel Arteta did make a mistake letting Granit Xhaka leave this summer.

That’s off the back of another lack-lustre performance by Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Xhaka was a player who came alive in such games, and although he sometimes made the headlines for the wrong reasons, he’d never go missing.

Fabio Vieira and Kai Havertz have been dovetailing in the role since Xhaka left, and the same can’t be said for them.

Although both have a ton of ability and promise, they are not having the impact of Arsenal’s departed ‘leader’, Xhaka.

In fairness to Arteta, it did seem that he envisioned playing Declan Rice in this more advanced role at times.

However, an injury to Thomas Partey, something that shouldn’t be a surprise, has cut those plans short.

I think all Arsenal fans would have been confident that Arteta could have convinced Xhaka to stay at the club were it desired.

Arteta made a mistake letting Xhaka leave Arsenal

Although the decision looks questionable right now, it is one that should ease as the season goes on.

Kai Havertz should find his feet, Vieira will keep improving and Partey will get back to full fitness.

And when all of that is in place, Xhaka will be a name of the past.

However, right now it does seem that the Swiss’ influence and quality was slightly underrated in his final season.

Xhaka looked reborn in a more advanced role under Arteta, and Arsenal fans may now wonder if the relationship was cut short too early.

Emile Smith Rowe is a player who could help the situation, but it seems Arteta is no longer keen to play the 23-year-old centrally.