09 Sep 2020 10:02:20
You can't fault Xhaka's commitment since Arteta has come in. He's improved ten-fold on the pitch and has arguably been one of Arsenal's most consistent players with Aubameyang in terms of his performances.
He's also apparently still reported for training despite Arteta giving him a day off due to the international matches. He's clearly working hard and this season is a big one for him!
In other news, it's been confirmed that Luiz has a minor injury and is likely to miss this weekends game. With Mustafi and Mari out too it could well be Saliba and Gabriel alongside Holding!
09 Sep 2020 10:53:53
I like xhaka I hope he does great this season.
09 Sep 2020 11:17:31
He has all the qualities you want from a player Stephen but unfortunately his inconsistency and tendency to make a mistake has made him an easy target for criticism. It's evident every time he doesn't play that we miss him but some people can't see it. It's been 4 tough years for him and I agree that he hasn't been good enough but I think that he'll be vitally important for us this season. Arteta is unlocking something with him and he might just surprise us.
09 Sep 2020 12:42:46
Absolutely Glenn. What I notice now for the first time in Xhaka's entire career with us is that he has been getting the protection he needs in order to show his quality. It's a big part of his resurgence. Hope he continues to kick on for us next season.
09 Sep 2020 13:16:46
Yeah I agree wire. I think his attitude has been superb as well after everything that went on under Emery. He was close to leaving and if the reports are to be believed then Arteta convinced him to stay. I'd say it's paying off but we'll see what happens this season :)
09 Sep 2020 13:26:10
I have liked him the only thing I didn't was the Palace game but he has since moved on I hope he dies well and scores a few more as he has a great left foot on him.
09 Sep 2020 17:29:56
Hope he dies well. Bit harsh that one Stephen 😂.
09 Sep 2020 18:24:20
Meant does.
09 Sep 2020 18:26:33
I'm not a Xhaka fan but even I thought that was harsh wire D16 mate :-) .
To be fair Xhaka did do much better after lock down than he had done in his previous 4 years with us, but let's face it he'd set himself a pretty low bar to get over in order to say " look how much I've improved everyone ". I'm still far from convinced by him myself.
09 Sep 2020 20:12:59
Agree with g62 there. He's good but nowhere near what we would require for a starter in a top 4 EPL/ CL - Semis team.
Its a clear reason as mentioned by Eds here time and again as to why he other big teams weren't breaking down our door to sign him during his tough period here.
That said - cannot fault his commitment, He's been good for us since Arteta. But honestly shouldn't be a starter in our project restart/ rebuild.
09 Sep 2020 20:15:12
Did anyone see his incredible pass during the Switzerland- Germany game the other day. Absolute worldie.
09 Sep 2020 20:17:49
Don’t like him never have, he’s had 4 years here and yet to look anything but average.
09 Sep 2020 20:19:33
Evening! I thought originally that we left him exposed and all his flaws were there to be seen. He’s bounced back well but ultimately, he’s just not quite good enough. He falls asleep at the wheel, wants too much time on the ball and does get us moving quick enough. For all his improving - he’s another compromise in our midfield packed with compromise. Get a proper CDM and a proper CAM or let Ozil be CAM but only if you build the defensive core in midfield otherwise we need Ozil to defend which isn’t why we pick him.
09 Sep 2020 20:52:57
The single most divisive subject for Arsenal fans; Mr Granit Xhaka. I do agree that he has improved greatly this season, and his attitude is good, but show me how many careers you would be allowed to produce 3 or 4 years of total dross before picking your ideas up just before redundancies come along. Sadly even if he turned into Messi and Ronald combined for the remainder of his time with us I still don’t think it would make up for all that’s gone before. However, we seem stuck together, as Arteta likes him, so I do wish him all the best and hope he continues to prove us doubters wrong. However, if I see him fail to track his opposite midfielder one more time, and then do the flap the arms in frustration move with the how did that happen face, when said midfielder slots the ball unmarked into our goal, I will personally purchase a drone that I can specifically use to drop a massive dump on his head.
09 Sep 2020 21:45:29
Good post Epping, GX seems to have more lives than a cat . Mediocrity is his middle name, but as you say we are stuck with him it seems, I can’t believe we are even talking about one pass in an international.
09 Sep 2020 22:42:32
Xhaka has averaged a goal every 16 games since arriving, poor return IMO.
09 Sep 2020 22:58:38
That's sums Xhaka up, one excellent pass or one excellent tackle or one one rocket shot on or off target and all else is immaterial.