Granit Xhaka: Swiss Army Knife or Blunt Tool?

[Riou]

 

[Atlas]

He’s never going to be top 6 standard nevermind top 4 and he will let us down when it matters. Get rid of him while he still has some value.

 

[Taneruit]

He’s never going to be top 6 standard nevermind top 4 and he will let us down when it matters. Get rid of him while he still has some value.

The duality of the A-M Xhaka thread in two posts.

 

[AberGooner]

I think tonight should hopefully show Arteta he can't be playing him with Elneny for any extended minutes again. Was so much more involved next to Partey.

 

[RacingPhoton]

Statman Dave would not lie

2 through balls and 2 big chances created in a single game. That's what I am talking about. Truly great attacking performance. Compare that against 14 big chances and 37 throughballs in 146 PL matches. That explains why people have been slagging him off.

 

[RacingPhoton]

Very good again tonight. We need to open contract talks with him, he's the type of player that will keep getting better with age IMO.

Come on. He had a great game. Can't deny it. But starting contract negotiations based on that is a bit over the top.

 

[Jack_the_boy]

Another great performance from a great player.

 

[MikelHadADream]

Come on. He had a great game. Can't deny it. But starting contract negotiations based on that is a bit over the top.

Nah, he's been very solid under Arteta on the whole. Players like him get better with age, good player.

 

[AfcDaniel20]

Great performance all around. Man of the match.

its crazy that over all these years here he hasnt had a player play next to him like partey who can actually pass the ball too. Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos and Elneny were his partners in the last years. Those guys dont have the ability to play against a pressing team like southampton.

 

[MikelHadADream]

He reminds me a lot of Gareth Barry (which is a complement).

 

[Dutch D]

Great performance all around. Man of the match.

its crazy that over all these years here he hasnt had a player play next to him like partey who can actually pass the ball too. Torreira, Guendouzi, Ceballos and Elneny were his partners in the last years. Those guys dont have the ability to play against a pressing team like southampton.

Neither has Xhaka unless he plays next to Partey to be honest.

He had a very good first half and was fine in the second half, but you see he struggles when he doesn't have an incredibly mobile unit like Partey next to him.

Partey would still do well with Elneny next to him. That's the difference. But, alongside Partey Xhaka looks like a very solid CM in our system, I'll give him that. Hope they can keep it up together, is crucial for our run.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Another great performance from a great player.

And that's that on that.

 

[Jack_the_boy]

Neither has Xhaka unless he plays next to Partey to be honest.

He had a very good first half and was fine in the second half, but you see he struggles when he doesn't have an incredibly mobile unit like Partey next to him.

Partey would still do well with Elneny next to him. That's the difference. But, alongside Partey Xhaka looks like a very solid CM in our system, I'll give him that. Hope they can keep it up together, is crucial for our run.

I remember the Partey and El Neny partnership getting manhandled by Villa’s Barkley, Grealish and McGinn.

Partey and Xhaka is much better, and I remember recalling they’ll form a great partnership, they compliment each other very well.

 

[Dutch D]

I remember the Partey and El Neny partnership getting manhandled by Villa’s Barkley, Grealish and McGinn.

Partey and Xhaka is much better, and I remember recalling they’ll form a great partnership, they compliment each other very well.

Well, we definitely agree there.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Interesting development with him with Arteta he more open to pass forward and between the defense his pass to pepe was good and robbed an assist because laca couldn't finish. He been good this season apart from few games having world class like Partey next to him make things more easy

 

[NieThePiet]

Bossing these games in the last weeks.

Will look even better in the next time, if Partey and Xhaka played more games together.

 

[Jack_the_boy]

Partey and Xhaka are both world class. With them two in central midfield, it’s actually the strongest area of our team.

Ironic isn’t it? Considering many thought it to be our weakest area.

 

[Arsenal4life14]

Still think we need someone more mobile and technical in there next to Partey against certain teams. Xhaka is a pretty good back up player. But he falters when he comes up against quick thinking players that have good movement, hes just not mobile enough to get back. I hope he continues to improve though. He adds a bit of leadership too the players seem to respect him.

 

[Jack_the_boy]

Xhaka may not be very mobile but he makes up for it with his intelligence and positioning. Things rarely gets past him. Note that when we get caught on the counter when we have a corner it’s not his fault, because he’s up there challenging the keeper.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

Good first half. A bit quieter in the second but that's credit to saints. The stats and the eye test were closely aligned tonight