Xhaka - worst buy in recent history?: Page 19 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Xhaka - worst buy in recent history?

Claudius

Qwiss! wrote:
Claudius wrote:
Stop fucking around.
Next game put together some players who can string together some passes. Midfield two of Xhaka and Torreira. Attacking 3 of Ramsey, Ozil and Iwobi. Aubameyang striker. That should work. Makes the most of everyone’s skills. Ramsey will have to play wide right in that formation. Xhaka can feed all of them from deep.

I think you need to play Laca and Auba or you are just losing too much threat.

My biggest struggle with Arsenal. How do you slot him in? I would love both in the squad give their quality relative to our other scrubs.

Captain

If you aren't playing four of:

Ozil
Ramsey
Lacazette
Aubameyang
Mkhi
Iwobi

Then you are failing.

Bold Tone

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
Rivals Mustafi that’s for sure.

Can not believe just how irritated I am by the staff we have employ

He is limited and will remain limited for ever.
The past 3 months has been his purple patch and we just have to ride it out till the end of his contract as he knows his level.
We cannot sell him as nobody is interested so when he leaves, like Welbeck, it will be on a Bosman as that's the only way he can get anything close to the wages Gazidis/Wenger put him on.

The thing is, he is not even close to our main problems which are the lack of a winger and decent CBs and FBs.

Anzac

Bold Tone wrote:
@lorddulaarsenal wrote:
Rivals Mustafi that’s for sure.

Can not believe just how irritated I am by the staff we have employ

He is limited and will remain limited for ever.
The past 3 months has been his purple patch and we just have to ride it out till the end of his contract as he knows his level.
We cannot sell him as nobody is interested so when he leaves, like Welbeck, it will be on a Bosman as that's the only way he can get anything close to the wages Gazidis/Wenger put him on.

The thing is, he is not even close to our main problems which are the lack of a winger and decent CBs and FBs.

This and also a CAM if we are ever to return to a 4231.

Anzac

Claudius wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
I think you need to play Laca and Auba or you are just losing too much threat.

My biggest struggle with Arsenal. How do you slot him in? I would love both in the squad give their quality relative to our other scrubs.

4222 as seen A v Fulham with the twin CAMs/wide playmakers working laterally behind the twin ST to link and create overloads with their FBs,
so that when 1 CAM goes wide the other goes central.

Claudius

4222 in its pure form is dependent on highly consistent full backs. Also requires a lot, physically and creatively from the AMs. We could just about get away with the latter if we try 2 or Ozil, Ramsey, Iwobi. Not sure we can consistently produce from the fullbacks. Bellerin and Kola wouldn’t be enough for the season.

Qwiss

Claudius wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
I think you need to play Laca and Auba or you are just losing too much threat.

My biggest struggle with Arsenal. How do you slot him in? I would love both in the squad give their quality relative to our other scrubs.

Either Auba wide or Laca at number 10.

awooga83

We don't have any decent wingers to run down the line with any real threat and create chances and space for the forwards. Neither do we have good enough quality in midfield to be able to cope with pressure and still deliver to a high technical standard. Both these issues mean we either just lump it forward or massively rely on wing backs which makes us hugely vulnerable at the back.

Xhaka is not the biggest problem in the immediate timeframe but he's a pretty basic midfielder who doesn't have a good football brain and is terrible under pressure which are both crucial traits in his position.

Qwiss

awooga83 wrote:
We don't have any decent wingers to run down the line with any real threat and create chances and space for the forwards. Neither do we have good enough quality in midfield to be able to cope with pressure and still deliver to a high technical standard. Both these issues mean we either just lump it forward or massively rely on wing backs which makes us hugely vulnerable at the back.

Xhaka is not the biggest problem in the immediate timeframe but he's a pretty basic midfielder who doesn't have a good football brain and is terrible under pressure which are both crucial traits in his position.

I'd say thats fairly spot on.

Anzac

Qwiss! wrote:
awooga83 wrote:
We don't have any decent wingers to run down the line with any real threat and create chances and space for the forwards. Neither do we have good enough quality in midfield to be able to cope with pressure and still deliver to a high technical standard. Both these issues mean we either just lump it forward or massively rely on wing backs which makes us hugely vulnerable at the back.

Xhaka is not the biggest problem in the immediate timeframe but he's a pretty basic midfielder who doesn't have a good football brain and is terrible under pressure which are both crucial traits in his position.

I'd say thats fairly spot on.

IMO the creative CM position is crucial in this new style of play, and whilst Xhaka has improved this season his physical and defensive frailties are still hampering his partner because he cannot be left alone & needs a baby sitter.

Gazza M

He's a key player and a liability rolled into one. As others have said, there are a number of other issues to fix before we get to replacing xhaka

Anzac

I'm beginning to question if his downsides re his positioning and lack of pace& awareness to danger are hampering us in transition and playing out from the back.
By that I mean that whilst his individual passing may still be effective, he detracts from the whole capability because he cannot get forward, he is too one sided in regards to his positioning to influence the entire pitch with his passing. Some of these would be less of an issue if we were playing with 2 equally capable double pivots, but we're not.

Gazza M

Yes. His one footedness, slow feet, and inability to pass while moving all impact our ability to transition the ball quickly

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Whenever he receives the ball from Kolasinac, all he can do, at best, is pass it a few yards square, such is his absolute lack of a right foot. This is not good enough for the supposed fulcrum of the team.

We have had a team filled with one-footed players for a number of years and I find it quite embarrassing - these are top level pros.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Gazza M wrote:
Yes. His one footedness, slow feet, and inability to pass while moving all impact our ability to transition the ball quickly

In addition, Guendouzi's penchant for taking a few touches while he scans the entire pitch while contemplating how he can play the killer pass every time really compounds this problem.

speedy

Most CM's get thrown out wide for a season to get used to the game at this level like AMN. Or sent out on loan. Guendouzi been thrown into the fire. Personally i think hes done great, it's not like hes got vidal and pirlo beside him.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

I'm a big fan, don't get me wrong. But he shouldn't be starting so many games now. Then again, neither should Xhaka.

flobaba

Get rid of both. Let Smith Rowe and Willock have their minutes.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Certainly wouldn't get rid of Matteo. Madness.

But yes to your second sentence.

Qwiss

speedy wrote:
Most CM's get thrown out wide for a season to get used to the game at this level like AMN. Or sent out on loan. Guendouzi been thrown into the fire. Personally i think hes done great, it's not like hes got vidal and pirlo beside him.

Spot on. Guendouzi has done a really good job given the circumstances. He's an extremely talented player. Hopefully all these minutes help get him to a higher level more quickly.

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