Morning all.
Our Swiss midfielder has finally broken his silence via Arsenal’s official Twitter page:
Arsenal
✔@Arsenal
The following is a message from Granit Xhaka…
There are two things going on here I think. Firstly there’s the nasty, vile and hateful people who have taken to social media to make Xhaka and his family’s life hell and as I’ve said before, I hope the boys and girls in blue are hunting down those responsible. Secondly, there’s the group of fans who booed him last weekend. One is illegal, the other, whilst there is bound to be a differing of opinions on booing, is football. Granit Xhaka isn’t the first player to be jeered or booed and sure as anything, he won’t be the last but again, it’s not his fault Arsenal extended his contract instead of selling him and it’s not his fault Unai Emery keeps playing him. I don’t rate him as a Premier League player but not for one minute do I condone the online stuff. It’s disgusting.
I’ve mixed feelings on the booing too. On one hand I understand why it goes on because fans are frustrated, angry even with watching the same mistakes again and again, the same pathetic defending, the same slow buildup and the sloppy and error strewn playing out from the back. Frustration grows game after game and then all it takes is one thing for all that frustration comes out. The fans might feel better for it because perhaps they feel some improvement by the team will follow but in reality, it probably makes it worse because those same players know it could happen again. The fear kicks in and instead of improving, performances can worsen.
It’s a tough one really but surely the team would be more encouraged to do well if the same energy which can be found to boo the team was put into getting behind the team as proved after Xhaka left the pitch. Suddenly those same fans were right behind the team as they went in search for a winner.
But that’s life in general isn’t it? It’s always easy to complain when something goes wrong but ask yourself, when did you last praise somebody for getting something right? Not something out of the ordinary done well but something ordinary done very well.
Aren’t we guilty of such a thing on here most days? A player might get dozens of passes right during a game but muck up two which go straight to the opposition and nearly end up with us conceding a goal, which do we focus on after the game? Leno fluffs a pass out from the back just after he’s made a very good save, which one stays in your mind? Martinelli scored two against Liverpool but how many of us were thinking about the sitters he missed? That’s just two of numerous examples I could give.
I’ve been writing on here for over nine years now, not every day admittedly but overall, I’ve not missed many yet despite proofreading what I’ve written, I’ll read the article an hour later and find at least one mistake which I didn’t spot previously. I’d like to blame predictive text but I know I’d be clutching at straws. I’m just human, I make mistakes and many of them.
Footballers are human too but for some, the errors aren’t just a one off during a game, they are their game. The manager either doesn’t see it or chooses to ignore it and carries on regardless. Before you know it, that player is being jeered and booed and people far removed from the club wonder why….
The answer is simple really though in my opinion, bad management.
No surprise that the cancer that is killing society has had a role to play in these events. Like him or not, Xhaka is just a footballer, a man with a wife and family. What gives anyone the right to wish such depraved things on another human being is synonymous of the world we inhabit. All of those ‘so called fans’ should hang their heads in shame and grow up. They are killing our club.
Morning and thanks Rico, what a great thoughtful post.
Really good points made.
I think we all agree on here about the vile on line stuff. It’s just sickening. Bad enough on Xhaka, but why his family?
Booing at the game I don’t like, but I must admit I’m guilty of cursing people who make mistakes in the heat of the moment, especially the referee!
There are all lines that shouldn’t be crossed and maybe at the Palace match the booing was a bit much.
However, these guys are not babies and Xhaka earns maybe more in a week than most of us do in 4 years, so they should be able to take a bit of Stick.
I think everyone is frustrated at Arsenal at the moment. Fans , players , it just isn’t happening. I think Emery is a bit lost and the task is too big for him.
Morning Mike, thank you.
I too think the line has been crossed with Xhaka, but online only as that’s vile.
You’re right imo, frustration has been simmering for a while and now it’s reached boiling point. Big decision for Emery tomorrow I reckon. Will he or won’t he play Xhaka.
Test
Morning Rico, thanks for another great post…
I don’t know if the club have coached Xhaka through this difficult period or if the statement is his own work or mostly his own work? It doesn’t seem like the usual PR speak to me.
I think it treads just the right balance between an apology and a non-apology, he just said he was sorry it happened not that he was sorry about his response.
As you wrote Rico, those keyboard warriors who abused him should be caught, named and shamed, the booing at the stadium isn’t the major item to me, it’s sport, it happens, people get emotional and do and say things they normally wouldn’t, Xhaka gets £100k pw as compo, so that’s not a bad exchange is it, although there will be plenty of people out there just looking to be outraged.
Well if you all want to club together and pay me £100k a week you can and you’re most welcome to follow me around London booing me as I cut up other motorists and dream about knocking over a few cyclists…
As for the captaincy, well that’s a tricky one for Emery, especially if the players insist on Xhaka retaining the armband.
Emery has already shown that he isn’t the most resilient of managers, walking a tightrope between being in control of the dressing room and anarchy. So I expect he’ll do what he normally does and will kick the can down the street and avoid making a decision.
Xhaka isn’t resigning the armband anytime soon I suspect.
Who knows what goes through Emerys mind Rico !
Xhaka shouldn’t have played in the last 8 games, he hasn’t been good enough. Nearly every pundit , ex manager , ex player thinks he hasn’t been up to it, let alone the fans….. But Emery puts him out there and if anything he gets worse.
I hope he doesn’t play him , For the teams and Xhakas own good, but he obviously rates him over Torreira which is lunacy in my opinion.
I’ve got a hunch that Xhaka might be on the bench this weekend.
Let him run up and down the line warming up to test the atmosphere and if he gets a big cheer Unai will soon have him on and the hero returns, etc etc…
What I will say in his favour is that I do think he cares about Arsenal, last season he played out of position at Southampton, in defence when all our defenders were injured/suspended.
Xhaka could have refused, I can think of a few ‘me, myself and I’ types in our squad who would have refused, but he put himself in the firing line, in a position that doesn’t really suit him, for the good of the team, risking more ridicule. We got well beat 3-0 if I recall with 3 long, high balls into the box, but he did his best.
I think that he was paired with Lichtsteiner at the back, so go figure?
Morning Kev, thanks.
I’m with you on that, £100k a week and I’d take a bit of booing in my stride and as I’ve said before, he didn’t help the situation did he?
His words didn’t strike me as a heartfelt apology either…
Morning Mike, you make some good points, and yes, it isn’t his fault that Emery picks him instead of Torrieira, but I reckon that Torrieira would like to partner him in the midfield rather than replace him, maybe the problem is he’s being asked to fulfill a role he isn’t suited to?
If we had a proper defensive midfielder, a gap in our team that Wenger failed to address and so far neither has Raul, then maybe Xhaka wouldn’t be such an issue?
Mine, I’m hoping Torreira being subbed at Anfield means he’s starting tomorrow..
So did Rvp before he signed for Utd Kev… or do he said.
Hi All at last some one talking common sence and yes I agree Granit Xhaka is not the best player but at least he tries and I may be the only one who agrees that he had the wright to yell back at the supporters after all every week on the Arsenal fan tv they keep blaming him no matter what happens. how ever when a player has a go back the fans start crying that’s why in Australia we have a saying if you can not take it don’t give it out and further more I never here arsenal fans tv having a go at Aubameyang but lets face it one goal or less per match from a striker is not good enough and he has missed some very simple goals and as for the coach lets starting show him support and see what happens at the end of the year. after all why would a good player or coach want to come to a club were its fans turns on them so quickly as for those wondering yes I am a paid up arsenal member and been a fan for over 50 years
I know Rico, but to be honest, although we didn’t like some of the things that RVP said before leaving, he actually had a bit of a point about our lack of ambition at the time.
Mind you the massive wedge from Man U also had an influence.
Here’s one that you didn’t ‘sport’ previously. ‘hour later and find at least one mistake which I didn’t sport previously.’
Good day to you all and thanks, Rico, for the post.
To be honest, I think Xhakagate has been blown out of all proportion. He was being subbed and, simultaneously, booed by our own “fans”, he walked off the pitch told a few of them to f**k off , removed his shirt and trotted down the tunnel. Not the best of behaviour but does it justify the widespread vilification to which he has been subjected in the media and on line?
Xhaka has written a measured response, not an outright apology, but an explanation none the less. Sufficient I would say in view of the abhorrent on line abuse aimed at him.
I doubt that it was ever Emery’s intention to play him in the Liverpool game, I hope that the whole episode can be quickly laid to rest and normality resumed. Should he play against Wolves tomorrow? I see no reason why not.
Smashing post again rico. How you churn these out daily is commendable……I wouldn’t boo you on them, if you made mistakes (SPOT = SPORT) 😉
My take on the Xhaka debacle……..
I have written here on numerous occasions, and ever since he signed for us, that I don’t think he has the qualities for a top four premiership team.
I will not go into detail as i’ve explained them many times. But, I would never boo one of my players off the pitch, even Xhaka,
And, as many have said previously, he was given an extension to his contract, (not his fault). Would anyone on here turn down the opportunity to earn £100k per week, it was the board AND the managers fault for extending it.
Even the managers fault for continuing playing him when he has clearly been struggling off form.
Perhaps it would have been fruitful for Wenger or UE to buy a proper holding mid fielder to play alongside him, then we may see a more accomplished player, who knows?
Just look at some of the Arsenal supporters faces when he was walking off, absolutely vile. Arms aloft and snarling at him. I was ashamed and appalled at some of them.
If that were me, then I think I would have done exactly what he done, perhaps even stuck a finger or two in the air !!!!!!
As things have panned out, and although I’ve been critical of him, as a player, I have some sympathy for him.
As for the internet aesrnkw that have sent atrocious messages to him, they should be found and prosecuted. No one, but no one, deserves such treatment.
I have my doubts weather they are actually Arsenal supporters, or indeed other anti Arsenal brigades trying to fuel the problem/turmoil.
COYG
You have a point Kev, it’s not like Arsenal we’re showing much ambition back when RvPs contract needed renewing.
We have that saying here too Geoff. Lol
Auba won’t be overly criticised because without the goals he does score, we’d be nearer relegation than the top four..
Thanks Vcc, I would say I did that on purpose, however.. oops. 😆
I think it was Kev who mentioned earlier that Emery would have been better off perhaps playing Torreira alongside Xhaka in the absence of a better option because I believe they’d be our strongest midfield, certainly for the difficult matches away from home. Xhaka is too slow to recover ground and because he doesn’t seem able to read the game, he’s not the kind of player to hold our midfield together imo.
Arsenal News HQ
@ArsenalNews_HQ
·
31 Oct
Starting XI costs:
Origi £12m
Keita £53m
Lallana £28m
Ox £35m
Gomez £4.5m
=£132.5m
Martinelli £7m
Ozil £42m
Torreira £25m
Holding £2m
Mustafi £30m
Willock- 0
Saka- 0
AMN- 0
Kolasinac 0
Bellerin £0.45m
Martinez £1.35m
=£107.8m
But we played their u18s apparently.
Jimmy, do you think a day will ever come that you actually offer something sensible to a debate or is it simply a guilty pleasure of yours to act like a real plank?
Rico. Evidence suggests the latter I would say. People have been questioning the unpleasant attitude of some Arsenal supporters, then, right on cue…
It was me Rico, thanks for noticing…. 😄
Funny that eh Kev, of course the pundits etc forget the facts.
Right on cue indeed Adam. What is it Lee always used to say about a village somewhere missing an idiot.. 😝
My pleasure Kev. Didn’t want jimmy all upset again… lol
No Xhaka tomorrow – confirmed by Emery
Ah, maybe he isn’t in the right frame of mind…?
Or maybe he’s refusing to relinquish the captaincy?
https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/10/30/santi-cazorla-villarreal-comeback-injury-spain-arsenal
Dan Critchlow
@afcDW
·
1h
Remember when Brewster was being thrown around in the young forward prospect conversations over the summer?
Martinelli: 7 goals, 1 assist
Nketiah: 5 goals
Connolly: 3 goals
Greenwood: 2 goals
Brewster: –
Wrong frame of mind I suspect, poor delicate little soul.. 😆
Xhaka is a strange one, not a bad player. Very popular with fellow players, coaches and managers – and not just Arsenal. He might excell in a slower European league, Italy or Germany maybe, but wholly unsuitable for the Premier league.
Everything is in slow motion, he is infuriating. Coaches like him to defend set pieces but he basically can’t jump more than 2 inches. He can’t run but the stats say he covers lots ground, he just ambles around ponderously.
None of this is his fault, he tries hard but is just not up to it.
It’s a good point about his salary. People could boo me all they like for 100k +
The personal stuff is disgusting, those people are just idiots.
What happens now will be be interesting, he will probably be straight back, but sold by the summer hopefully.
Rico good and sensible post. I wanted to comment yesterday but decided not; but after reading the various comments I decided to. I wanted to be clear, never would I think that those making those threat and comments about Xhaka are right or sane. But is Xhaka so fragile that comments from virtual individuals bothers him. Why worry about opinion of individuals he will never meet, are idiots and do not matter?
The fact that it has effected him shows that he doesn’t have the mental fortitude to be a captain or play football at Arsenal. If the situation bothered him so much, and if he thought that the threat were real why didn’t he reported immediately? He was jumping around when they scored and celebrating when they won. But when he acts like an idiot, all the sudden it because virtual individuals are bullying me. Some players do worst and say worst during the games, small wonder that other players believe the Arsenal team is soft.
Rico 😆
So Xhaka is out of the squad for tomorrow. I’d like to see Willock start, we know Guendouzi will start, so it’s maybe 2 out of Torreira, Ozil or Ceballos.
Maximum points needed.
Interesting view there Obi. Thanks re the post by the way.
Limey, Torreira and Guendouzi is my bet as I think Willock got a kick on Tuesday evening.
Rico, your posts are like wine, they are getting better as you age whereas my wife as she gets older just whines more !
As I have said since the incident, it was enept management by our out of his depth manager and great to listen to Martin Keown on talkSPORT this morning as he totally agrees with me !
On football matters, Keown agreees with all of us in that Dick needs to sort out the defense first and foremost and high lighting the fact of a massive gap between our defenders and the midfield which all teams are exploiting saying that Luiz andd Sok sit too deep !.
Could we do worse than have someone like Keown to sort our defense out !
I like Fridays on talkSPORT as it`s usually Perry or Martin, so there`s always some Gooner talk………………they are totally chalk and cheese though with Keown always sounding more knowledgeable on the tactical front talking a lot of sense, whereas Perry can get excitable at times like fans do. hahaha
Evening Rico and the House.
The U23s have lifted some of the gloom around the club.
They were away to the spuds and won 3-1
Goals by Burton and Coyle made it 2-0 at halftime,
then after they pulled one back on76mins Tormy scored the
thired on 90mins.
Emsr played the full 90 mins and Nelson the first half
It was the first time they had played together since Aug last season
Defence looked solid with Clark and Mavropanis a good pairing,
Mavropanis at last started to play like we all hoped he would
Thanks for another very good post Rico.
I was going to comment but after reading what others have said
I counted to 10 and left it.
By the way Willock Kola and amn are all fit for tomorrow
As for tomorrow Come on England you can do it.
Night all
That’s a good result Rick, especially as Balogun was out, injured…
I think that’s the U23’s first win in 4 games.
Pleased to see Nelson back, he has a good understanding with Tierney, which might come in handy in the UEFA Cup. Also pleased for Burton as he might be set for a loan in January?
Encouraging news Rick about Mavropanos as he’s pretty much been a passenger for the last 18 months, now if he could put a decent run of games together in the U23’s he might get a run out in the UEFA Cup and maybe a game in the FACup next year, depending on the opposition?
Thanks Lc.
Hi Rick, sorry I missed your comment last night. I was watching Bohemian Rhapsody with a box of tissues…
New post up now…