Granit Xhaka

[Power n Glory]

I still think he could be our henderson. No liverpool fan would have had hendo in their first team until their title win. That said, he has burnt his bridges with so many fans he could score the winner as motm in a champions league final and still be wanted out by some.

Xhaka and Henderson are both popular in the dressing room, and that's where the similarities stop.

As a footballer Henderson is average, but in no way has he contributed to defensive snafus to nearly the same extent as Xhaka has. Henderson has also improved over time, particularly once Wijnaldum and Fabinho joined.

Xhaka OTOH has been the same player regardless of who's been next to him: Elneny, Torreira, Guendo, Ceballos, Partey....none of them really made a difference.

That last paragraph especially. He's a massive weak link which is why it's been so difficult to find a strong CM partnership.

[theHotHead]

Xhaka vs Henderson has clear daylight between them ability-wise.

Henderson is very good defensively, is strong and powerful, does not lack pace, can spray the ball around, can cross the ball well and can shoot. He may be technically limited but he doesn't need to have the technical ability of Thiago, his tools complement his game.

[VCC]

Xhaka vs Henderson has clear daylight between them ability-wise.

Henderson is very good defensively, is strong and powerful, does not lack pace, can spray the ball around, can cross the ball well and can shoot. He may be technically limited but he doesn't need to have the technical ability of Thiago, his tools complement his game.

Where as xhaka is simply a tool

[Arsenal Tone]

Our midfield falls apart when he doesn't play.

[jayramfootball]

Our midfield falls apart when he doesn't play.

This is why fans settle for mediocrity and mid-table obscurity.
Pining for a player as sh*t as Xhaka just because we are even more sh*t without him.

[Phil71]

Our midfield falls apart when he doesn't play.

This is why fans settle for mediocrity and mid-table obscurity.
Pining for a player as sh*t as Xhaka just because we are even more sh*t without him.

Nobody is pining for him.

The fact is, as I've said many times before, he's the best we have for that position.

That doesn't mean I think he's good or that we should keep him. Just that he's the best we have.

[coach8smallball]

Our midfield falls apart when he doesn't play.

This is why fans settle for mediocrity and mid-table obscurity.
Pining for a player as sh*t as Xhaka just because we are even more sh*t without him.

Nobody is pining for him.

The fact is, as I've said many times before, he's the best we have for that position.

That doesn't mean I think he's good or that we should keep him. Just that he's the best we have.

we lost 3-1 with him in the lineup the last time we played pool

[ag6789]

Get rid first opportunity. One ot the reasons why we are here now. Tons of stupidity over the past few yrs have made us slip to mid table.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

It is beyond comprehension that 3 different managers have bent their style of play to accommodate Xhaka in the middle.

Because of his lack of defensive ability, we had to switch to 3 ATB from 2018-2020, despite not having the players for that formation.

Because of his lack of passing ability, 5 yd tiki-taka is the cornerstone of our system.

Because he's so highly favoured by the manager, the midfielders around him have no incentive to improve. Torreira, Ceballos, Guendouzi....all became worse over time.

[theHotHead]

Our midfield falls apart when he doesn't play.

Like it was ripping up the league when he was playing and we were 15th in the league!

[Power n Glory]

It is beyond comprehension that 3 different managers have bent their style of play to accommodate Xhaka in the middle.

Because of his lack of defensive ability, we had to switch to 3 ATB from 2018-2020, despite not having the players for that formation.

Because of his lack of passing ability, 5 yd tiki-taka is the cornerstone of our system.

Because he's so highly favoured by the manager, the midfielders around him have no incentive to improve. Torreira, Ceballos, Guendouzi....all became worse over time.

I actually thought Arteta had nailed the Xhaka problem by having him move away from midfield and tucking into that leftback space to cover. That's not happening anymore and we're seeing the knock on effects.

[Salibatelli]

This guy should be sold in the summer, there should be no place for him at Arsenal,
He’s sub standard.

[KG3]

Xhaka isn’t the problem tbf he’d make a quality squad player practically never injured and consistent, just needs someone better ahead of him

[thebigbangtheo]

For the simple reason that speculation suggesting that Keiran Tierney's injury is likely to see him out for a month at best, Cedric Soares being drafted across to cover for him for such a duration could prove a bridge too far.

That the Portuguese is capable of accomplished performances at left back is not the issue for me and I would similarly contemplate the manoeuvre were it for one or two games at the most.

However, in being for much longer than that, I'm inclined to prefer having a more naturally left footed player there instead in retaining the semblance of normality and balance to the team. In addition to this, negating the effectiveness of our best performing right back for a lesser version of himself on the opposite flank is more likely to compound the initial loss and problem than compensate for it.

Just like in algebra, both sides of the equation have to balance out (yes Mrs. Steele, it did eventually make sense to me and stick), therefore I would much rather play Granit Xhaka at left back for such a period of time than Soares.

His normal playing in midfield often sees him drop in to cover whenever Tierney's marauding forward, one of his best performances for us was at left back, his conservative playing of the role is less open to being exposed and exploited, most good captains prove their mettle in times of adversity by being the first to volunteer when the call is for self sacrifice for the good of the team.

Last but not least, we know that admittedly on too few an occasion, Partey and Elneny can be an effective partnership in central midfield, so the prospect of a little run of games together might yet yield a positive outcome.

[Arsenal Tone]

https://twitter.com/charles_watts/statu ... 31626?s=19