Granit Xhaka: Managers Love Him!

It’s happening, isn’t it? Sometimes I think it’s my inner need to see the back of him getting the better of me, but I see it! There are little signs and noises... Tell me it’s so?

 

Gunnerblog annoys the **** out of me but he writes for the Athletic often writes articles with Amy lawrence. .
Was Michael Cox that made that claim anyway.

 

It was Cox? I went by the reddit post saying it was J. Gunnerblog and then skipped through to the discussion on the podcast and couldn't really tell who was who talking.

 

Edu has won league titles and won world cups with Vieira and Silva. There’s no way in hell he’d be okay with Xhaka as a starting midfielder for us. Man worked over time to bring in Partey for us.

 

Anyone else think Xhaka’s stock is falling? First time he’s being benched or substituted this season. Liverpool A, Sheffield H, City A where he didn’t play a full 90. And don’t give me that international break nonsense. What obligation does Arteta have to Switzerland? Moving on, Elneny’s resurgence has made Xhaka not so imperative to Arteta’s plans imo. Second time this season he’s been dropped back to a CB. Initially, I thought it was just for build up purposes but he seems like a defender. I’m not saying he’s being dropped but I do feel like this is the transition from a team that is not so dependent on Xhaka to survive. You don’t spend £50 million on Partey for banter. Clubs don’t spend big money on players to help weaker players, normally they replace them. We spent 55 on Lacazette to make Giroud redundant
We spent 60 on Auba and Iwobi suffered. Etc etc.

 

Quite the opposite.
He was subbed because overused.
The last thing Arteta needs now is a MF crisis on top of a CB crisis on top of a ..
mid table crisis.

 

Yeah you are actually correct, Cox was agreeing with him.

 

Second only to Leno in minutes played in all comps.
Most minutes played of any of our midfielders in the League

https://fbref.com/en/squads/18bb7c10/2020-2021/all_comps/Arsenal-Stats-All-Competitions

https://fbref.com/en/squads/18bb7c10/2020-2021/s10728/Arsenal-Stats-Premier-League

 

Again looking at stats without taking the context. Partey was signed recently. Without him, we had only three senior midfielders while other teams had many options. With Partey now, how Arteta plans to choose his midfield still doesn't have enough clarity. Especially with the CB shortage we have now.

 

The question was whether his stock appears to be falling within the team. Thus far the evidence is much the opposite.

 

Stocks are falling means he is not starting as regularly as before. Unlike the past where there was no chance he would have been dropped, now there is a chance that he could be. He has been substituted or benched more often, unlike before. So there is no point in comparing him with other team midfielders.

 

@Jury was right. Xhaka is droppable in Arteta’s view.

A shame. I remember him scoring a banger against Utd.

 

I wasn't talking rubbish you know. Big away game at a top 4 rival and he's getting benched for Elneny. If we somehow win this game then this probably the end of Xhaka's time as a starter.

 

According to Arteta pre-match its *rotational*, specifically mentioning Xhaka playing lots of minutes in the last few weeks. Hinted at them coming on second half if things go wrong.

That said that's pre-match manager speak. Who knows?

 

I’d play with 11 Xhaka’s as long as we won mate. I just tell it as I see it and try my best to be objective. If Xhaka proves at any point to be part of our strongest 11, he has to play whether I rate him or not. I’m Arsenal till I die at the end of the day.

 

RIP Xhaka’s Arsenal career

25 May 2016 - 1 Nov 2020

As expect Partey came in and ended the myth of this man. Buzzing over here.

 

@Manberg @blaze_of_glory @Erliss
You alright guys?

 

lol he's starting next game, get over it.

Very happy Elneny looks so good though.

 

People writing essays and making podcasts about how Xhaka is Arteta's main man only to see him benched by Elneny.
If you still think Xhaka will make the midfield better, I don't think any logical argument can change your mind. For a change, our midfield was winning balls, breaking out of press, showing urgency in moving the ball forward, helped out in both attack and defense by running quickly to and fro both sides of the pitch. In short, we actually dominated the midfield. Something, we forgot how to do with years of Xhaka. Time to move him on to Europa League and cup matches.

 

My agenda is on fire today. My Ghanaian brother Partey ended Xhaka. My Dad was born in the same town as Partey. My house is rocking. First time in years we've won at Old Trafford. First time we have won at a top 6 rival since 2015. We haven't won at a top 6 ground since Xhaka came along in 2016. And to add insult to injury he's now Elneny's back up. Loooooooooooooool.