Stats show that Xhaka a cracker

SWITZERLAND captain Granit Xhaka is now a serious box-to-box midfielder.

Sports data specialists Statsports have compiled a range of statistics from their England ambassadors and Arsenal players ahead of the World Cup.

They have taken data from each player’s best performances over the course of this season in categories like distance covered and sprinting.

The data will also be shared between clubs and national associations on the Statsports Exchange network to help coaches stay on top of players’ fitness and performances.

It has highlighted the work of Arsenal midfielder Xhaka (above), who has been a revelation under Mikel Arteta. His displays have been a key part of Arsenal’s title challenge.

Xhaka’s distance covered of 11.43km in a game is nearly 1km more than some of his teammates. Barry Watters, Statsports head of sport science, said: “In how Arsenal play and how Granit Xhaka is used in that system, he is a box-to-box midfielder with serious energy.

“Hence, we see high total distance for Xhaka due to his role both in attack and defence.

“His High Intensity Distance (HMLD) metric is really strong – which is down to his role in midfield and lots of sharp short bursts of acceleration and decelerations, making space to receive the ball in possession and closing the ball down when out of possession

“His big HSR (High Speed Running) metric is achieved in areas where he has space to run into on the counter, or if they lose the ball and he needs to get deep and protect the back four and break up play.”

England also use the Statsports figures, along with Premier League clubs, and being able to

share data will be key in ensuring that, despite the gruelling and unique challenges of this season, player fitness can be managed after the World Cup.

Watters added: “The volume and intensity of training and minutes played in the lead-up and during the tournament is extremely important.

“An aspect of this is data-sharing between club and national teams. This allows national team performance staff to understand the volumes and intensities players have been involved in preceding the World Cup.

“Post-tournament this will also be hugely important as national teams share data with clubs before they get straight into domestic competitions.”