Arsenal won’t sell Granit Xhaka but they’ve stepped up their interest for a left back..

Morning all.

The Mirror suggest Atletico Madrid want Granit Xhaka and they’re ‘pushing hard to get him’ – their words not mine, written in today’s online version. They say our Swiss midfielder, valued more than the £35m we paid for him, is seen as the ideal replacement for Rodri who’s linked with a move to Man City. Again, that’s all over the back pages, it’s not me making up stuff. Ok NN?

Anyway, if true, I hope Madrid get their man and we finally say goodbye to the guy who really hasn’t done as well as I and probably many of you, hoped or expected he would. Xhaka isn’t a bad player by any means, just not what this Arsenal team needs in the centre of midfielder. In my opinion, our midfield needs power, pace, height and strength, not to mention someone who can read the game. Be proactive rather than reactive, slowly in Granit’s case. A Vieira kind of player, or Toure, a fit and healthy Diaby. Whether there’s that kind of player out there somewhere I don’t know. Better still, do we already have a similar style of player already at the club? Chambers, Bielik or Willock? Will Guendouzi be stronger next season, strong enough to take on that role? Unless the club plan to sign someone of that ilk, we surely have to hope someone steps up and proves they’re ready because a midfield as weak and disorganised as last season will leave our weak and disorganised defence vulnerable again.

The Mirror go on to say that Arsenal wouldn’t let their ‘prize asset’ go, not with four years left on his contract.

I though think his four years left on his contract, one which he signed only last summer, wasn’t about ensuring Xhaka stays at Arsenal but ensuring that if he goes, he goes for a transfer fee rather than for a pittance or nothing. Same with Elneny who had his contracted extended at a similar time.

As we’ve said before, too many of our players have left for free or a small sum but at last, that appears to be being addressed. No player, regardless of how long their contract runs for is guaranteed to stay at the club. If the right offer comes in for any of them, I’m sure the club will think long and hard before making a decision. Then it’s down to the player, the guy who at any time can hand in a transfer request and ‘demand’ to leave. Of course, the club doesn’t have to bow to their demands if they don’t want to but once a players head is turned, in my opinion, they should go.

Maybe Xhaka fancies Madrid, who knows. I hope he does, as I strongly suspect many of you do and perhaps Simeone will whip him into shape. Once he’s gone, if he goes, I don’t really care.

Who comes in this summer is far more important to me, as are the players who have one thing in common. To make Arsenal great again.

Apologies if there are any spelling mistakes of grammatical errors. I’ve read it twice but even so, I’m only human. I make mistakes….

See you in the comments guys.

PS – a couple of rumours.

Arsenal step up interest in Kieran Tierney after Unai Emery identifies Celtic star as his top left back target.’ – Daily Mail. Where they got that from though I really don’t know.

’Arsenal manager Unai Emery is prepared to let young striker Eddie Nketiah go on loan for the season so the England U21 striker can continue his development.’ Mirror.

I wonder if the author has a hot line to the Arsenal manager. I can see it now, red phone to red phone in a very ‘Batman’ kind of way.