Afternoon guys.
Jeeze it’s tough trying to conjure up something to write about but I’ll soldier on. Just for you mind, so be grateful. I jest of course, if I didn’t enjoy whinging most days about Arsenal or something else football related, I wouldn’t bother.
Granit Xhaka. I would say Mr Marmite but these days it’s hard to find someone with a positive word about his game these days but I’m going to be honest, I was pretty pleased when Arsene Wenger signed him. He’d been playing well for both Monchengladbach and the Swiss international team. I’m pretty sure we lacked a captain, or certainly a player of captain material back then so it was a win win I thought. Tin hat donned!
I don’t think he’s a bad player, just perhaps out of his depth in the Premier League where the game is so often played at a high tempo. His lack of pace means more often than not he gets caught out, his tendency to commit silly fouls at crucial times does him no favours either but on the positive side, it’s been a while since he’s been shown a red card.
Xhaka has been linked to a move away. To Inter Milan where the bloke who was possibly involved in us signing him works. Personally, I’d like to see him go but it appears that’s not in his plans, or so he reportedly to have said:
‘Not that I know,’ Xhaka told Blick when asked if he was planning to leave Arsenal. ‘I have another four years on my contract, I only signed last year.
‘I’m happy there, my family too. That’s the most important.’ And when asked if it would be fantastic if he were to be made Arsenal captain, Xhaka replied: ‘It would certainly be the dot on the ‘i’.’
If he gets the captains armband I could think of other expressions than any dot on an i……
We do need a captain though, even if he’s to play second fiddle to Koscielny until he departs. In any case, with Koscielny having fitness issues, we’ll probably need an alternative more often than not. This ‘five captains’ thing is wrong in so many ways I think. Especially when it’s been given to Ozil, which was embarrassing to say the least, and then Ramsey or whoever else happened to be front of the queue. Being handed the armband is a privilege and in return one should expect to see leadership on the pitch. A presence.
Xhaka isn’t that guy. In fact I’m not sure we have any player who fits the criteria. Lacazette maybe, or Torreira or Leno even but even they aren’t quite the right guy.. In my opinion anyway.
Xhaka for captain? At Inter Milan, yes…..
Catch you in the comments….
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Thanks Rico
Xhaka has really decent attributes but I agree with the gist of your post that his weaknesses tend to cloud over what he does well. I also agree that I think his game looks more suited to Serie A than the EPL, and I don’t think any of the other top 6 EPL sides would rush to get him.
It’s a bit of a shame because he has spirit in him and that is something we need injected into the team that has been lacking for ages. I kind of hoped that the club (not having bundles to spend) may have pushed for a smart 2 year option on someone like James Milner on a free. He is a consummate pro and remains in incredibly good shape, technically very good, and has the right mentality in fight and spirit for the EPL. He could make an excellent captain and be a very positive influence on the youngsters for a couple of years.
Mixing someone like him with our talented youth could get the right blend in midfield that we have been missing.
Sorry Rico, I just knew it would happen but I commented on the last post right after you put this up, so here is that comment just for the sake of it.
Thanks Rico. Only 2 days late to reply to your post 🙂
Carrasco looks decent but doesn’t really give me that wow feeling. I haven’t really seen anything in Carrasco that makes me feel he will be a better option than promoting Nelson through. If anything I feel Nelson has the greater potential and looks quicker for a wide left attacking player, Carrasco not looking like he has blistering pace. Will that hamper him in the EPL? I am not sure we should use any of our transfer money (even if reduced to a year ago) on average players.
I am all for us trying to do a Fergie’s Utd class of 92 route with our youngsters next season, so would prefer young Nelson gets his chance over someone like Carrasco. With Iwobi I remain convinced he would make a better box to box CM than winger. He is one of 2 regular 1st 11 players I would potentially look at for a switch of position (the other one is even more out there, and I doubt I will get many agreeing with it 🙂 ).
If we were talking Nicolas Pepe or Zaha as an attacking wing forward that would be different as they look 1-2 levels above Carrasco, but I am not sure either would choose us before other suitors and, even if they did want us, will the board extend to their transfer fee?
There could still be some merit in Carrasco but much may depend on what happens with Ozil and our strikers. I wonder if he could make a better ACM or number 10 type player? If so he could be a useful addition and potential replacement if Ozil is done with us, in taking up a goal-scoring ACM role but with the option to cover wide left if Nelson is not able to.
On the others, I am happy with the Martinez promotion and Anderson sounds promising. I agree with those that feel we need an addition to our left full back position, but do we have an academy prospect waiting in the wings in this position?
Afternoon Goonerb. I agree, not one of the top clubs in England would rush to sign Xhaka, in fact not many top clubs full stop imo. Perhaps Gazidis is feeling a bit guilty… lol
Are you thinking Xhaka in the Ozil role? If he has to stay, I’d say it’s possibly the only place he’d do more good than harm.
I know nowt about Carrasco so can’t comment really but why he left Spain for China is pretty clear I’d say.
I think we do have a left-back coming through, a right-back too..
If you guys judge Xhaka for his mistake you won’t see his value but just check back on all games he was absent and than you see his value and worth to this Arsenal team
But again thesee coaches never play the same team for three consecutive games to allow for consistency and some players thrive with momentum..
Does losing a game mean you have to change the team.. I don’t think know so why not the approach why is the guy performing for Switzerland..
And as for us fans players need to feel valued and loved and the Arsenal fans only did that to RvP, Cecs, Henry, Viera, Bergkamp and they also had off days and even months..
Harsh on the fans there I reckon Stelle, I think all players are given a chance before making judgement but constant mistakes which in Xhaka’s case, get us into trouble, won’t go un missed.
Rumours have begun about selling Torreira for big money….
Xhaka not doing Ozil role. Ramsey yes bust was gone.
Run for Bruno Fernendes.
No central back? One? two? three?
Our “cancer” is in the midfield now.
Thanks Rico,
a strange summer,most Arsenal fans seem just as excited at who might leave as new signings.Quite right, Xhaka has lots of qualities,nice passer,good dead ball delivery, good free kicks,his bad points, unathletic,can’t run,can’t jump,defensively unaware make him a liability in English football.Maybe he will be suited to Italy.
He was one of the first Arsenal signings identified by Stats DNA(Mustafi,Elneny also) Goes to show how misleading stats can be,Xhaka scores highly on pass completion,I bet a lot of those are short sideways passes.Also now Ramsey has gone he is always near top of distance ran.What a joke,he is clearly fit,has a great physique,rarely misses a game through injury,but just jogs around for 95 minutes and gets great Stats.
Anyway if we can get any sort of fee I’d sell.In fact that goes for the entire squad.
At least we have the women’s world cup..
Well done Rico, for making the effort at a time of other sports like Cricket, F1 Vettel/Hamilton arguements over “that” incident, and of course the Womens World Cup all taking the headlines.
Football transfers appear to be lethargic at the moment though I wish Arsenal had made a move for Daniel James the now ex-Swansea winger. Fast and talented.
At the time, like you, I thought Xhaka was an ideal buy, but events have shown that he’s evolved from a decent player into a less reliable, patchy one who appears to have lost his way.
I’m off to watch Andorra v France tonight so hope to see some French superstars.
Limey, just why I dislike stats so much. They don’t tell you what the eye can see…
Rain’s interfering with the cricket Andorra, annoying really. Transfers, well I guess we have to see where we are come the end of August…
Afternoon all and thanks for the post Rico.
Captaincy eh? We haven’t had a proper Captain since Veira left. Koscielny just doesn’t inspire anyone on the pitch, all that can be said of his captaincy skills is that he often wins the toss. 😉
Agree re Kos Cicero, he’s no Kompany is he…
Evening all and thank`s Rico………………………….if whinging is what gives you the enthusiasm for writing posts may I introduce you to my wife !…………..she can write a few a day !……………she would win an Olympic gold medal if it was a sport, however all posts would be about me ! hahaha
Same as you Rico, I thought Xhaka was a decent buy, but unless we play to his strengths then he needs moving on,but yet another player who is unlikely to want to go with a long contract on lots of dosh !
Ornstein is quiete !…………I hope he is OK otherwise what am I praying to ? 😆
Your poor wife Lc, but she possibly has a lot to whinge about living with you. 😆
Xhaka isn’t one of our highest earners, or at least I think he isn’t but even so, I think we need better. Someone quicker, more athletic and can win the ball in the air.
What are his strengths by the way? Lol
Knew you would be sympathetic to me, Rico ! 😆
Xhaka is on £90,000 a week, half the amount Mkhitaryan is paid. Which of them gives the best value?
😂 Lc, you know me too well.
Xhaka hands down Cicero
I think we assumed that Xhaka came as a defensive midfielder when in fact he was more of a number ten, although he often filled in as DM and even as a makeshift centre back. Typically Wenger ignored his strengths and tried mould him into something that he was not. Just as he did with so many of his chosen players.
As far as I’m concerned he beats Mkhitaryan into a cocked hat.
Very unlike Wenger… lol
Saw Wenger on Bein sports in Cyprus he looked very relaxed couldn’t make sense of what he was saying though.Nothing much has changed.
I bet your happy to be back in soggy old Norfolk bor. 😉
Bit wet isn’t it.
It is…
Morning all.
Morning Rico. Warm but dull here.
Morning Adam, a bit like our transfer window so far… 😝
Rico. Don’t get me started. 😃
😂 Adam.
There’s a new post up.