Granit Xhaka

[thebigbangtheo]

If you are going to have Granit Xhaka in your team then you have to set up that team to best accommodate him in order for him to serve any purpose.

When he was in Germany he effectively had a midfield minder/body guard alongside him to try and negate his defensive deficiencies and buy him the time and space to do what he does best, spray balls all over the pitch with a high degree of accuracy and perfect weight.

That he did that from the DLP position along with his physical presence and not shirking a tackle is why many of our fanbase wrongly assumed he was the defensive midfielder we had been crying out for since Gilberto Silva, which was understandable because he certainly did look the part and was even aptly named.

Stick Granit Xhaka behind a midfield pairing of Petit and Viera and we'd probably be talking about his passing range being up there with the likes of DB10 & Fabregas. Of course I am only being hypothetical and hopefully those who are more reasonably minded will get my drift and nonsensical comments if any about daring to use his name in the same breath as such greats can be avoided for the sake of banality.

In how our manager based his midfield on pairing Torrieira as Xhaka's donkey (no pun intended) says he acknowledges this fact too in the main, but misses the point that the Uruguayan has more to offer in his game than to be almost wasted doing that role so simply not worth the sacrifice and little wonder he was burned out come the end of last season.

Tom Brady is widely regarded as the best quarter back of all time but stick him in the teams with the worst defensive blocking guards so that he's constantly trying to avoid getting sacked more than anything else and he has a completely different career and probably retired at 30 years old.

In trying to solve the problem of Santi getting injured and the loss of that sublime passing from deep that dictated so much of our play and was instrumental to that of Ozil's as well, I get why he was looked upon as a solution but the team has changed significantly since then and moved in a completely different direction to which he is not really suited regardless of the good things he can bring to the table.

[BS221B]

Captain Xhaka

simply undroppable.

[Arsenal Tone]

Still love him

[Angelito]

Captain Xhaka

simply undroppable.

Xhaka in the midfield:

[rewb1]

we have no one that we can drop him for ffs, torreria isnt tall or strong enough to control the midfield

[Fenice]

we have no one that we can drop him for ffs, torreria isnt tall or strong enough to control the midfield

And Xhaka is a bloody idiot that with his strength gives away fouls and pens. What’s your point.

[CrimsonGunner11]

we have no one that we can drop him for ffs, torreria isnt tall or strong enough to control the midfield

Someone who consistently costs us goals shouldn't be the first name on the team sheet, PERIOD. If not a midfield consisting of three of Willock, Guendouzi, Ceballos, or Torreira, then play something like three at the back with a CB taking Xhaka's spot.

[Nuggets]

I would rather see Pat Rice starting that fooking Xhaka

[ESR10]

we have no one that we can drop him for ffs, torreria isnt tall or strong enough to control the midfield

Someone who consistently costs us goals shouldn't be the first name on the team sheet, PERIOD. If not a midfield consisting of three of Willock, Guendouzi, Ceballos, or Torreira, then play something like three at the back with a CB taking Xhaka's spot.

This. Chambers would do a better job I'm sure

[immsun]

That pass to the watford player during our last attack when he had 3 options to choose from. I was just so mad. Fuming.

Should not start next game.

[Arsenal Tone]

There were so many worse performances than his today.

[Angelito]

There were so many worse performances than his today.

The only performer worse than Xhaka during Xhaka's time here has been Emery (and Mustafi too).

[DiamondGooner]

There were so many worse performances than his today.

Not the point though, he's just not offering anything and its always him and AMN just ruining every simple pass, tackle, whatever.

They are dragging us down because better players are on our bench or need to be bought in to replace them.

The longer we keep these dead wood players the longer it'll take us to get back on track.

[Arsenal Tone]

There were so many worse performances than his today.

The only performer worse than Xhaka during Xhaka's time here has been Emery (and Mustafi too).

David Luiz

[Ach]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49708521

Got to say, the team is mirroring their captain

Emery has a hell of a job on.