Granit Xhaka: Swiss Army Knife or Blunt Tool?

[gunner4lyfe]

We aren't going anywhere with him starting. If he isn't replaced or at least upgraded on in the summer I am 100% Arteta out

 

[RunTheTrap]

As much as I hate him, there’s not much I can really critic with today’s performance. I don’t think anyone seriously thought we would win the midfield battle against City, so I guess my expectations were capped. I actually thought he was okay but he is still a victim of stupidity that he will never ever shake. He took more responsibility today than he did against Benfica and was our best midfielder today but he’s still several levels below the City midfield. And that wherein lies the problem. He’s so integral to our midfield but it’s horrible. I could maybe excuse him with the tiredness excuse but even if he were fully fit, does anyone think his performance would change that much?

I guess his acolytes will give him an 8 due to the circumstances we have found ourselves in but I no longer feel anger towards him. I used to find it cathartic to write sh*t on a Granit Xhaka disaster class but for the first time in years I just feel apathy towards him. The disdain that I have for him has made me numb to this. I’m bored of Xhaka. I’m bored of season after season of him and my club going backwards.

 

[Sweet'n'Soulful]

He moves like a massive fridge on a skateboard. Player with his mobility, touch and mentality could easily get seriously exposed in a game like this. Just about hung in there, but you need more in the locker at this level.

 

[Gooner416]

He moves like a massive fridge on a skateboard. Player with his mobility, touch and mentality could easily get seriously exposed in a game like this. Just about hung in there, but you need more in the locker at this level.

Doesn't help that his midfield partner today was practically sat next to Rob Holding. I do agree though, if we want to be competitive again, we need to upgrade on him but I do think we have bigger fish to fry. He wasn't the major issue in midfield for me today.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

Didn't do much wrong but didn't impose himself either. He's just so hesitant to attack even with space to pass or run into. He tried a few lofted passes but we just didn't attack with any conviction and he now looks dead in the water without Partey.

 

[Riou]

He moves like a massive fridge on a skateboard.

Sounds like an unlockable character in one of those Tony Hawk PlayStation games...would still prefer that in our midfield over our Granit, tbh

 

[AfcDaniel20]

Xhaka was the only player out there who had a very good game. Its not his fault we dont have anybody really who can do anything with the ball within the box.

 

[truth_hurts]

Thought Xhaka was our best player. Decent game.

 

[Big Poppa]

Didn't do much wrong but didn't impose himself either. He's just so hesitant to attack even with space to pass or run into. He tried a few lofted passes but we just didn't attack with any conviction and he now looks dead in the water without Partey.

I always feel that this is because he knows he can’t recover his position very easily, but either way it’s a major hindrance and cuts off an entire attacking supply chain.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

He looked incredibly frustrated in FT like whole team quite poor 15 minutes but after that he got his s**t playing with guy like Elneny won't help he look much better with Partey or Ceballos

 

[celestis]

MOTM

 

[Big Poppa]

He moves like a massive fridge on a skateboard. Player with his mobility, touch and mentality could easily get seriously exposed in a game like this. Just about hung in there, but you need more in the locker at this level.

There are two different conversations happening at the same time about Xhaka. There’s one about his performances and there’s another about our needs.

This thread is full of ‘Xhaka can’t do xyz’ being defended with ‘I thought he was our best player’.

If I’m being kind he’s the Giroud of central midfield.

 

[avenellroad]

There are two different conversations happening at the same time about Xhaka. There’s one about his performances and there’s another about our needs.

This thread is full of ‘Xhaka can’t do xyz’ being defended with ‘I thought he was our best player’.

If I’m being kind he’s the Giroud of central midfield.

Which is why we need to sell him at the end of the season and move on. He and us. Too much water under the bridge and people will always look at us being out of the CL as the Xhaka years.

 

[Macho]

There are two different conversations happening at the same time about Xhaka. There’s one about his performances and there’s another about our needs.

This thread is full of ‘Xhaka can’t do xyz’ being defended with ‘I thought he was our best player’.

If I’m being kind he’s the Giroud of central midfield.

A select number of you complain about him non stop, but what happens when he’s eventually replaced and we’re still crap? Mock Giroud all you like but he went on to a better team which says more about us than him.

In any case I don’t feel like Xhaka even did much wrong, if anything Ceballos should have come on for Elneny sooner. Especially when it became clear that City were happy to coast.

We’re 10th place and didn’t expect much anyways we could have really gone for it and ended up with the same points. Arteta could have done more to shake things up himself, it’s not everyday personnel.

 

[Big Poppa]

A select number of you complain about him non stop, but what happens when he’s eventually replaced and we’re still crap? Mock Giroud all you like but he went on to a better team which says more about us than him.

In any case I don’t feel like Xhaka even did much wrong, if anything Ceballos should have come on for Elneny sooner. Especially when it became clear that City were happy to coast.

We’re 10th place and didn’t expect much anyways we could have really gone for it and ended up with the same points. Arteta could have done more to shake things up himself, it’s not everyday personnel.

You're just proving the point. We're having two different conversations.

The "complaining" about Xhaka isn't about his performance, it's about his profile. If we're going to play with only two midfielders, they have to be able to do more than cover the space in front of defence and play it to the nearest player.

As for Giroud, again, nobody's mocking him. This isn't a popularity contest. He's a very good but limited player who's very good at 2 or 3 specific things. The argument in both instances is that you need more from a guaranteed starter in a key role, not that the player himself isn't of value.

 

[teamsoutheast]

Xhaka is a victim of our imbalance in midfield. You put him in that city midfield with Bernardo Silva and Gundogan or De Bruyne next to him and you will see a different player. He's not that mobile but his passing range is very good. His pass completion is always in the high 80's which is what you expect with his passing range.

 

[TakeChillPill]

Xhaka has improved immensely under arteta. But I do feel he's playing at his limit, so I'm not expecting more from him. Just in the long run we're going to need an upgrade if we want to progress as a club.

 

[gunner4lyfe]

Xhaka is a victim of our imbalance in midfield. You put him in that city midfield with Bernardo Silva and Gundogan or De Bruyne next to him and you will see a different player. He's not that mobile but his passing range is very good. His pass completion is always in the high 80's which is what you expect with his passing range.

He is the REASON for our imbalance. Lol. We have been out of the CL since he's been here and it is not a coincidence. He wouldn't get anywhere near that City team. Lol. His passing range is left, right and back mostly.

 

[Big Poppa]

He is the REASON for our imbalance. Lol. We have been out of the CL since he's been here and it is not a coincidence. He wouldn't get anywhere near that City team. Lol. His passing range is left, right and back mostly.

It’s kind of a moot argument anyway. Gareth Barry looked like a footballer playing next to prime Yaya Toure, but we don’t have a prime Yaya Toure.

 

[Tourbillion]

I am so bored of seeing his annoying-looking name in our lineup almost non-stop for 4.5 years.

Never injured, always available, always not good enough.

It's just so boring.