Xhaka - worst buy in recent history?: Page 34 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Xhaka - worst buy in recent history?

Qwiss

Some of those were good fouls to stop counters.

Bold Tone

Qwiss! wrote:
Some of those were good fouls to stop counters.

Yup but Tottenham were not all over us so we did not need to foul them every 3 minutes.
Notice that his defensive midfield partner who was also challenging is conspicuous by his absence on that list.
Even forward players namely Auba, Mkhi and Ceballos made challenges without giving away fouls. The only other Arsenal player to trouble the ref's whistle was Sokratis and that was once compared to Xhaka's 5 times in 15 minutes.
This was the period when we were chasing a winner so needed the game to flow in order to open them up.
e: Xhaka's numerous fouls were more beneficial to them as the stop-starts took us out of rhythm as it allowed them to catch their breath, reset their defensive shape and push up which aided their counter-attacks.

Captain

By that point the game had fallen apart and there was no structure.

Captain

And by that, I mean that they were still dangerous on the break, while the space available in the midfield was incredible.

Bold Tone

I agree and it was frustrating as hell that we were doing so well when Ceballos was introduced. We had a goal disallowed but then couldn't get a grip in those final 15 minutes.

Bold Tone

I don't intend to rewatch it but can someone who remembers better tell me what Guendouzi was up to in these last 15 mins as that could be a good excuse for Xhaka.

Ray

The problem with Xhaka is no matter all the good he does, he will cost us goals and points with the free kicks and penalties he gives away, most of which are unnecessary. It took long enough to figure out what Mustafi was all about, it will be on Emery's head if it takes him that long to figure out what Xhaka is about.

GooneriC

Reminds me of Wenger's persistence with Almunia

Qwiss

Bold Tone wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
Some of those were good fouls to stop counters.

Yup but Tottenham were not all over us so we did not need to foul them every 3 minutes.
Notice that his defensive midfield partner who was also challenging is conspicuous by his absence on that list.
Even forward players namely Auba, Mkhi and Ceballos made challenges without giving away fouls. The only other Arsenal player to trouble the ref's whistle was Sokratis and that was once compared to Xhaka's 5 times in 15 minutes.
This was the period when we were chasing a winner so needed the game to flow in order to open them up.
e: Xhaka's numerous fouls were more beneficial to them as the stop-starts took us out of rhythm as it allowed them to catch their breath, reset their defensive shape and push up which aided their counter-attacks.

The forwards can try for tackles and if they miss rely on the midfield though. Xhaka needs to take people down if he can't win it fairly and usually he can't. Look Xhaka is horrible defensively but I'd rather he kicked someone and give away a free the way he was in those closing minutes than allow them run through at Sok and Luiz. In the last 10 minutes when were pouring forward its the right thing to do.

Bold Tone

I think if he adheres to Wenger's advice, his contributions will be positive.

“He’s not naturally a great tackler,” said Wenger of a player Arsenal spent £25m to acquire from Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer. “In his decision making he is quite intelligent on the pitch. But it’s more the way he tackles that is not really convincing. He doesn’t master well the technique. I would encourage him not to tackle, to stay on his feet. Tackling is a technique you learn at a young age. You can improve it but when you are face-to-face with somebody, it’s better you stay up."
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jan/26/arsene-wenger-to-accept-fa-misconduct-charge-over-clash-with-fourth-official

Qwiss

Easy to say but he gets dribbled constantly. He can just let teams past him every time, he needs to foul. If he's doing it in the middle 3rd and doesn't get sent off then fine. When he's flying into the tackles in the box thats the problem.

lorddulaarsenal

He’s a clumsy oaf

flobaba

Hate him.

Klaus

The situation in the dying moments where he could have just played a straight ball forward for Auba to run through on but instead turned to his right and passed to a Watford player made me laugh out loud. That's as entertaining as we ever got in the second half.

Captain

To be fair, he was the only starting midfielder not to gift the ball to Watford in our box today.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Trash but so were Guendouzi and Ceballos.

Sicario

I personally felt he was ‘ok’ today but yes in general he’s a fucking liability

Ray

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49708521

Our captain.

awooga83

He's just not good enough for the position he is playing he has to be delivering more and as soon as they're is pressure he can't cope and his game goes to crap. We need to upgrade him massively.

lorddulaarsenal

What the hell was Wenger thinking getting this guy?

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