Granit Xhaka, who has played under both Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, has offered a comparison of the two managers. The Swiss midfielder spent seven years at Arsenal under Arteta, winning the FA Cup in 2020, before joining Alonso at Leverkusen in 2023 and securing a domestic double in Germany.
Speaking to the PFA in 2024, Xhaka highlighted key differences in their tactical approaches. He noted that Arteta is rigid in his philosophy, sticking to a 4-3-3 formation with a single defensive midfielder and two eights, and rarely switching to a back five or a 4-4-2. In contrast, Alonso is more flexible, willing to adapt between a back four and a back five, and prefers two number sixes to maintain positional discipline.
Xhaka acknowledged that both managers have their own distinct philosophies and tactical ideas, but emphasised that Alonso's willingness to adjust formations sets him apart. He stated, 'Mikel has his philosophy and that’s it... Xabi is a little bit different. I think that Xabi can play a back four, but he can play as well a back five.'
Alonso is set to take over at Chelsea in July, having signed a four-year contract after leaving Real Madrid. He will face Arteta's Arsenal in the Premier League next season, adding an intriguing subplot to their managerial rivalry.
