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Granit Xhaka: Swiss Army Knife or Blunt Tool?

Will Xhaka be here after the summer window?

  • Yes

    Votes: 38 55.1%
  • No

    Votes: 31 44.9%

  • Total voters
    69
  • Poll closed .
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DanDare

Emoji Merchant and Believer-In-Chief
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Player:Saliba
They caught us while we were shuffling across, Mustafi hadn’t gotten across to Vardy by the time the pass was played.

It’s hard to blame him because you rarely see defenders sprinting across the pitch when the ball is passed across it’s usually a gentle co-ordinated jog across pitch. They just caught us out and I think we’re all nitpicking over a goal that was created by genuine quality. Amplified by the fact we don’t score goals like that. :rofl:

Perhaps I'm nitpicking Mustafi is in a really weird position. I don't say this to blame Xhaka because I think Arteta told him to play LCB but if he'd been in midfield (you know like he should be as he's a CM) would the goal have happened? In that scenario Gabriel's on Under and Mustafi is on Vardy.

Footballs complicated but feels like an example where being conservative has actually cost us a goal

20201026-205655.jpg
 

blaze_of_glory

Moderator
Moderator

Country: Canada
Perhaps I'm nitpicking Mustafi is in a really weird position. I don't say this to blame Xhaka because I think Arteta told him to play LCB but if he'd been in midfield (you know like he should be as he's a CM) would the goal have happened? In that scenario Gabriel's on Under and Mustafi is on Vardy.

Footballs complicated but feels like an example where being conservative has actually cost us a goal

20201026-205655.jpg
Yup. As it looks there (can't ever get the whole picture from a still shot) it seems to me like everyone has a man but Mustafi. He's just hanging in space. He needed to come across much quicker to Vardy(as Gab was gesturing for him to do) so Gab could right away take the runner who blew past Xhaka.

If we are just in a regular four then Mustafi is already on Vardy, Gab is on the other guy and Xhaka is higher up in midfield helping to press.
 

boonthegoon

Arteta In by November

Country: USA

Player:Smith-Rowe
The one big advantage he has is that he's the only left footed cm in our squad now. Modern managers have a strange love for left foot players.
 

RacingPhoton

Established Member
Nothing to do with Xhaka at this point, you’re just digging your heels in because you think this is a Xhaka defence. It’s not.

You’re just trying to argue that clean sheets are more important than scoring goals and it’s blowing my mind. Honestly.

I’ll repeat. You can’t win a football match without scoring.
I didn't argue cleansheets are more important. I said defending goals is equally important as scoring goals.
 

Jury

A-M's drunk uncle
The one big advantage he has is that he's the only left footed cm in our squad now. Modern managers have a strange love for left foot players.
The advantages of a left-footed player are far more in attacking positions than midfield. The vast majority of professionals are obviously right-footed and so the instinct is to automatically think everyone else is right-footed. So when it comes to tackling you tend to push the leftie onto their favoured side. Also left-footed players are used to playing against right-footed players so their instinct is to go to the defensive players weaker tacking side where they usually end up reaching across themselves to tackle, which is both less effective and dangerous. A proper midfielder will make up for his lack of left foot by using the outside of his right foot to ping balls down the left channel.,
 

Pyres7

Well-Known Member
There are a lot of people who have made their mind up about Xhaka before a ball is even kicked so I tend not to bother debating with them on the player. Fair play for you admitting you made a mistake but initially I thought you were just manipulating the truth to suit your agenda.

To address your points

1. I don't think he was ball watching, if you watch the clip back he's squeezing up just like Mustafi did earlier in the clip when the ball was on the right side. That's a clear tactical instruction and it makes sense. Shrink the pitch, pressure the ball and make sure they don't have the time to play a ball into the space behind.

2. It's very good movement from Under, he fakes to come toward the ball and then spins in behind. If Xhaka doesn't go with him he picks up the ball and has a free run at our defence. As soon as Under darts in behind Xhaka responds immediately and that's why I don't get why he's getting critcism. He squeezes like he's meant to do and then responds straight away to the attackers movement. It's not his fault that Under is faster than him.

I've got no issue with the tactics but for me he overdoes it, goes too tight anticipating the short pass. There's no need to commit to it there and leave us exposed. Stay a yard or two away and then react when they play it short.

The first thought should always be to stop them getting through on goal. It's not ok for anyone to play a ball over the top and get a 2v1 against us, especially when we're playing 3 CBs.

The reason I say he was ball watching is because at 10 seconds, he's looking at Tielemans while Under is sprinting past him. Watch it again, Xhaka is walking backwards, he only starts running after Under is past him. If he starts running earlier he can cut out the pass or be close enough to Under to force him wide, and let Gabriel stick to Vardy.

 

Makingtrax

Worships in the house of Wenger 🙏
Trusted ⭐

Country: England

Player:Saliba
Lee Dixon kinda blamed Gabriel for the goal. Said he shoulda closed down sooner or stood his ground. He would know I guess.

He didn’t even wanna talk about Xhaka :lol:
He was the only Arsenal player that the two marauding Leicester players hadn't run past. And that 's because of his positioning. There's no way he could have marked both players though. And if he stayed with Vardy, Under might have scored.

Gabriel looks a half decent player, I'm sorry Lee, I love you, but this time you're talking out of your arse.
 

Makingtrax

Worships in the house of Wenger 🙏
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I've got no issue with the tactics but for me he overdoes it, goes too tight anticipating the short pass. There's no need to commit to it there and leave us exposed. Stay a yard or two away and then react when they play it short.

The first thought should always be to stop them getting through on goal. It's not ok for anyone to play a ball over the top and get a 2v1 against us, especially when we're playing 3 CBs.

The reason I say he was ball watching is because at 10 seconds, he's looking at Tielemans while Under is sprinting past him. Watch it again, Xhaka is walking backwards, he only starts running after Under is past him. If he starts running earlier he can cut out the pass or be close enough to Under to force him wide, and let Gabriel stick to Vardy.

That's exactly right. People on here are basically saying it's OK to let an opponent run past you without tracking the run. If that's the case you could easily end up with your deepest defender with 2 players to mark. And that's what happened. Maybe if Luiz had been playing, his positioning might have helped Gabriel. Mustafi was nowhere.

Xhaka may not have had the speed to track Under and try to stop him picking up the pass but he didn't try, and didn't even anticipate the danger.

No matter how good your press you can't cut out every long ball from inside your opponents half. That's exactly what Leicester did to City.
 

Macho

In search of Pure Profit 💸
Dusted 🔻

Country: England
He was the only Arsenal player that the two marauding Leicester players hadn't run past. And that 's because of his positioning. There's no way he could have marked both players though. And if he stayed with Vardy, Under might have scored.

Gabriel looks a half decent player, I'm sorry Lee, I love you, but this time you're talking out of your arse.
It was more of a team issue and well worked play rather than particular individual I think Lee was trying to say. I kinda saw his point.

I just think people are reluctant to blame our popular new signing and hungry to blame our existing fodder.

Either way, we didn’t score and Vardy scoring is inevitable - think you guys are splitting hairs over nothing tbh.
 

krengon

One Arsène Wenger
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Perhaps I'm nitpicking Mustafi is in a really weird position. I don't say this to blame Xhaka because I think Arteta told him to play LCB but if he'd been in midfield (you know like he should be as he's a CM) would the goal have happened? In that scenario Gabriel's on Under and Mustafi is on Vardy.

Footballs complicated but feels like an example where being conservative has actually cost us a goal

20201026-205655.jpg

Mustafi's position is fine, if he was closer to Vardy/Gabriel that would have been bad positioning. Xhaka's positioning is poor there though, mistake trying to step up when there's no pressure on the ball carrier and Tierney does a poor job providing help as he's caught flatfooted..

Agreed with the last point
 

Makingtrax

Worships in the house of Wenger 🙏
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Country: England

Player:Saliba
Perhaps I'm nitpicking Mustafi is in a really weird position. I don't say this to blame Xhaka because I think Arteta told him to play LCB but if he'd been in midfield (you know like he should be as he's a CM) would the goal have happened? In that scenario Gabriel's on Under and Mustafi is on Vardy.

Footballs complicated but feels like an example where being conservative has actually cost us a goal

20201026-205655.jpg
That picture says it all. Xhaka is already turning but it's too late and he's still watching the ball, Under is already up to speed. Gabriel has Vardy right next to him, but has already seen the problem even at this stage. Bellerin and Tierney both have players outside them to watch. Mustafi is not only completely static, he's watching the ball and totally unaware of what's about to happen.
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
It was more of a team issue and well worked play rather than particular individual I think Lee was trying to say. I kinda saw his point.

I just think people are reluctant to blame our popular new signing and hungry to blame our existing fodder.

Either way, we didn’t score and Vardy scoring is inevitable - think you guys are splitting hairs over nothing tbh.
Yeah I've stopped debating, no point.

Seems that the consenus is that Xhaka should have ignored the team tactics and dropped off Under rather than follow Partey as part of a co-ordinated press...aka the manager's instructions. Will have to just agree to disagree.

Glad that Dixon agrees as well, shows I'm not talking total bollocks. :lol:
 

Makingtrax

Worships in the house of Wenger 🙏
Trusted ⭐

Country: England

Player:Saliba
It was more of a team issue and well worked play rather than particular individual I think Lee was trying to say. I kinda saw his point.

I just think people are reluctant to blame our popular new signing and hungry to blame our existing fodder.

Either way, we didn’t score and Vardy scoring is inevitable - think you guys are splitting hairs over nothing tbh.
That's unfair. Cedric has been shocking so far, and apart from the Fulham game so has Willian. Gabriel has been fantastic and even here he's seen the danger before anyone else. Xhaka is sometimes good, sometimes poor but Mustafi has been a constant liability. There's no agenda here, just lots of evidence to support this.
 

Macho

In search of Pure Profit 💸
Dusted 🔻

Country: England
That's unfair. Cedric has been shocking so far, and apart from the Fulham game so has Willian. Gabriel has been fantastic and even here he's seen the danger before anyone else. Xhaka is sometimes good, sometimes poor but Mustafi has been a constant liability. There's no agenda here, just lots of evidence to support this.
Mustafi is Mustafi, Vardy was always gonna Vardy. In an ideal world neither would have even played.

I think the bigger concern is once Luiz was off the pitch we no longer had that type of pass Tielemens pulled off. Or that finish.
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
Trusted ⭐

Country: England
Mustafi is Mustafi, in an ideal world he wouldn’t have even played.

I think the bigger concern is once Luiz was off the pitch we no longer had that type of pass Tielemens pulled off. Or that finish.
Xhaka and Ceballos can definitely make those passes. We just don't do it.

Combination of the structure being too wing focused, but I've also noticed our players have had the desire to make risky plays coached out of them. I think it was mentioned that we could hear Arteta shouting at Tierney to keep the ball when he could have made a forward pass.
 

Makingtrax

Worships in the house of Wenger 🙏
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Player:Saliba
You need to watch the clip someone posted of Bayern's press. Think it would make a lot of things clear for you.
:lol::lol::lol: We're just having a discussion, there's no need for arrogance bro. I fully understand how a press works. And I've also seen it come undone many times with long balls and runners not being picked up. Klopp couldn't get his pressing game to work in the EPL until he got the right midfielders and CBs behind his front three. It's not always the managers fault when players are slow and unaware. Klopp and Pep have been struggling with their pressing systems recently and its down to personnel, injuries mainly. Liverpool had 7 goals past them and City 5 - same managers. I'm not blaming Arteta for that goal, but you go ahead.
 
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