Eight minutes into Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Burnley, debutant David Luiz picked up the ball deep inside his own half. He glanced up for a split-second, then casually launched a 50-yard pass perfectly into the path of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.



The technical quality prompted a collective intake of breath from the crowd – it was a stunning demonstration of what Luiz can do, at once flashy and effective.



Luiz may be 32, but this moment felt like a glimpse into Arsenal’s future – and it may well be a future without Granit Xhaka.



Since joining the club in 2016, Xhaka has consistently been a first-choice pick for both Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery. He has many positive attributes: he is a good character, a fantastic passer, and rarely succumbs to injury. Yet there remain frustrating flaws to his game. Xhaka is no sprinter, and he turns even more slowly than he runs. He’s very one-footed, and prone to costly lapses of...