Granit Xhaka signs for Arsenal: Page 16 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Granit Xhaka signs for Arsenal

BWoolley

As always with Wenger, we get to pick the best of a bad lot. Every CM we have is half-baked. Some don't have a first touch, others can't defend and one combines both these attributes.

Clrnc

Don't really agree with that. I like our CM options currently. It is a lot stronger than what we used to have.

Mirth

Yeah, I don't agree with that either. We've actually got a variety of CMs which gives us a lot of flexibility. I don't think our midfield's looked this good in a long while and particularly when compared to our rivals.

If we had the same choice at CF, we'd probably win the league.

GooneriC

We really should have gone for Krychowiak , but Xhaka will have to do now

BWoolley

Maybe it's just the nature of the two-at-the-base formation we play, but whatever CM combination we put out seems unbalanced and either defensively porous or offensively non-existent. If we were to switch to a 4-3-1-2, maybe then we would have two good sets of CMs. The issue is that our CMs either have a disastrous first touch (Ramsey) or are terrible defensively (Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere) or struggle to pass the ball meaningfully (Ramsey, Coquelin) or are extremely one-footed (Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere).

Mirth

I think that's why the emphasis should be on forming an effective partnership. Our best combinations in the past few years have been Arteta and Song (with Arteta being more defensive minded) or Coquelin and Cazorla. No one would have predicted those combinations to work on paper but they did compliment each other to the benefit of the team even though individually they've been found out at various points.

BWoolley

Agreed - I think Xhaka-Elneny is perhaps the best combination. Don't know where it leaves Caz though since him playing with Xhaka feels a little imbalanced (no mobility at all). I think Ramsey is probably going to be shunted into the front three (as he was many times last season). Feels a little imbalanced to me overall.

Mirth

I think Cazorla will end up taking Rosicky's slot on the bench. Not sure what we're going to do with Ramsey since he's basically proven with Wales that his best performance is going to come in a free role but he's never going to get that with Ozil around.

Ricky1985

Only saw the game late last night and flicked through a little here and there but I thought Xhaka was outstanding in the second half and even more so in extra time.

Drove his team forward, won every tackle, orchestrated every move, shouted instructions to the players around him... really showed he's a leader even at his age. Real big shame about his penalty because he didn't deserve that. Happens to the best of them in shoot-outs though and I have no doubt he'll learn from it.

Clrnc

GooneriC wrote:
We really should have gone for Krychowiak , but Xhaka will have to do now

At the 45m Sevilla is apparently asking for? We got a much better deal at 30m for Xhaka IMO.

Ricky1985

They're completely different players anyway. Like comparing Kante with Kroos or something similar.

Klaus

Krychowiak has stated repeatedly that he doesn't want to play in Premier League too.

Clrnc

Ricky1985 wrote:
They're completely different players anyway. Like comparing Kante with Kroos or something similar.

They are not that dissimilar. Both are tall tough tackling mid who can pass very well.

Rohit

Their physical attributes and passing range may be similar but they are very different in how they move off the ball and cover space.

Clrnc

If that's the case there will be no comparison for any players. Everyone will just be "different" and we won't be able to have any debates.

Rohit

???

We just made a comparison. Their games are very different in an aspect critical to how you would judge a center mid's suitability to your team.

Rex

BWoolley wrote:
Maybe it's just the nature of the two-at-the-base formation we play, but whatever CM combination we put out seems unbalanced and either defensively porous or offensively non-existent. If we were to switch to a 4-3-1-2, maybe then we would have two good sets of CMs. The issue is that our CMs either have a disastrous first touch (Ramsey) or are terrible defensively (Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere) or struggle to pass the ball meaningfully (Ramsey, Coquelin) or are extremely one-footed (Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere).

Wow. How is this bloke even a footballer?!

QuincyAbeyie

If Özil could play on the wing, I'd love to see a midfield trio of Xhaka, Cazorla and Ramsey.

Gazza M

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
If Özil could play on the wing, I'd love to see a midfield trio of Xhaka, Cazorla and Ramsey.

i've wondered what role cazorla would actually play in that configuration? he won't be picking the ball up off the centre backs, xhaka would have that role. he also offers minimal goal threat and defensive cover, and doesn't really have the engine to constantly move around the pitch for 90 minutes. xhaka, el neny, ramsey would work better i think.

Burnwinter

Rex wrote:
BWoolley wrote:
Maybe it's just the nature of the two-at-the-base formation we play, but whatever CM combination we put out seems unbalanced and either defensively porous or offensively non-existent. If we were to switch to a 4-3-1-2, maybe then we would have two good sets of CMs. The issue is that our CMs either have a disastrous first touch (Ramsey) or are terrible defensively (Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere) or struggle to pass the ball meaningfully (Ramsey, Coquelin) or are extremely one-footed (Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere).

Wow. How is this bloke even a footballer?!

😆 I love that post from BWoolley, it makes Ramsey sound like he suffers from a grievous physical disability, mental and sensory impairment and life-threatening dyspraxia. Beautifully proportionate work.

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