Granit Xhaka: Page 12 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Granit Xhaka

Gazza M

we can dump him when parteys healthy. partey and xhaka is our worst pairing. throw dani or moh next to tom, and make granit the leader of the Europa unit

goon

They've only played 45 mins together as a pairing haven't they? I don't think they looked particularly bad against Spurs except when they both wondered off at the exact same time for very different reasons.

Ceballos would be my preference too but I'd continue to use him even when Partey is back, he's a better player than Elneny. In the summer we should sell regardless, he'll have two years left on his deal and he's certainly not worth a new one. To be fair, I don't think he'd want a new one either.

Anzac

Claudius wrote:
Chelsea out-passed us 428 to 229. But one player’s pass map stood out for me. I can’t remember Grant Xhaka playing so positively in the last two years. He was heavily involved in all 3 goals and finally played like a midfield creator.

His top pass recipients were Tierney and Smith-Rowe, not centre backs. We know Xhaka doesn’t run. I think what helped him was people running off him. On the Saka goal for example, he does a 1-2 and then sees Bellerin sprinting into space on touchline and feeds him perfectly. There’s also the through ball he gives Tierney who is charging into the box before he gets tripped for the penalty. Xhaka’s forward passes were him trying to find his fullbacks and his 10 running. It helped to have a mobile, intelligent 10 in the 4231 before him.

Hopefully, this is something he can build on. We need Xhaka to do well. The things he did today - Elneny and Willock cannot replicate that. So unless an established midfielder arrives next week, our best path this season is for Xhaka to do this once a week.

IMO the key to this was his average positioning & he played as the more advanced CM for this first time, whereas in every other combo he is usually the deepest.

My question is whilst it is an improvement for the player is it good enough for the team?
Further to this what impact does it have on team roles, selections and shapes?

flobaba

You guys are suckers.

Great goal.

Sell him now.

Anzac

flobaba wrote:
You guys are suckers.

Great goal.

Sell him now.

Still this.

banduan

can he do it and maintain his discipline every match from now on? doubt it

Coombs

The better he performs the easier he'll be to sell. Happy in two ways.

Anzac

Coombs wrote:
The better he performs the easier he'll be to sell. Happy in two ways.

Same applies for a number of others, although in regards to Xhaka do we shackle Partey to enable Xhaka to play more forward, or do we change to an inverted midfield?

Claudius

I’m as big a critic as any of Xhaka. But I also recognize that Arteta doesn’t have the luxury of shouting “sell”. He has four big games he has to plan for where we need to get 10-12 points. He is unlikely to have sold Xhaka during that spell. And Partey will miss that run of games. With our other midfield options being sub-standard, what should Mikel do? Just toss Xhaka aside and play Azeez? What is the practical way forward for this run of 4-5 games?

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Just use him the way he was used yesterday.

I'd also give Willock a shot in a deeper role. The kid is looking pretty awful this season, because he's not an advanced midfielder. He needs the play ahead of him. He's an excellent ball winner and athlete - he could be a very good box to box.

ohboy

Claudius wrote:
I’m as big a critic as any of Xhaka. But I also recognize that Arteta doesn’t have the luxury of shouting “sell”. He has four big games he has to plan for where we need to get 10-12 points. He is unlikely to have sold Xhaka during that spell. And Partey will miss that run of games. With our other midfield options being sub-standard, what should Mikel do? Just toss Xhaka aside and play Azeez? What is the practical way forward for this run of 4-5 games?

Spot on.

Right now getting any points we can is the absolute priority.

Kel Varnsen

flobaba wrote:
You guys are suckers.

Great goal.

Sell him now.

Goldfish memory. Ridiculous. Xhaka is a shit footballer who has no business playing for us.

deardevil

goon wrote:
They've only played 45 mins together as a pairing haven't they? I don't think they looked particularly bad against Spurs except when they both wondered off at the exact same time for very different reasons.

Ceballos would be my preference too but I'd continue to use him even when Partey is back, he's a better player than Elneny. In the summer we should sell regardless, he'll have two years left on his deal and he's certainly not worth a new one. To be fair, I don't think he'd want a new one either.

I would forget about Ceballos. He's on loan, has struggled to make a mark in an area of weakness and needs to be sent packing. Thank god we didn't buy him outright.

Anzac

ohboy!!! wrote:
Claudius wrote:
I’m as big a critic as any of Xhaka. But I also recognize that Arteta doesn’t have the luxury of shouting “sell”. He has four big games he has to plan for where we need to get 10-12 points. He is unlikely to have sold Xhaka during that spell. And Partey will miss that run of games. With our other midfield options being sub-standard, what should Mikel do? Just toss Xhaka aside and play Azeez? What is the practical way forward for this run of 4-5 games?

Spot on.

Right now getting any points we can is the absolute priority.

But does that mean to the point of reinstating Ozil or recalling any of the loan players?

Anzac

deardevil wrote:
goon wrote:
They've only played 45 mins together as a pairing haven't they? I don't think they looked particularly bad against Spurs except when they both wondered off at the exact same time for very different reasons.

Ceballos would be my preference too but I'd continue to use him even when Partey is back, he's a better player than Elneny. In the summer we should sell regardless, he'll have two years left on his deal and he's certainly not worth a new one. To be fair, I don't think he'd want a new one either.

I would forget about Ceballos. He's on loan, has struggled to make a mark in an area of weakness and needs to be sent packing. Thank god we didn't buy him outright.

Much like the Xhaka example I don't think Ceballos has been used in the right role or combo.

For example he hasn't been used as CAM/#10 since we moved to a 4231, which is where he played at Betis and earned his transfer to RM.
Likewise when used in combo as CM I don't think he is suited to playing the deeper role as part of a 2 CM midfield, but would be better suited to the creative role in an inverted 3 CM midfield.

Claudius

We should be working towards removing Ozil and his whole motherfucking benchwarmer crew. And hopefully all his sycophants follow him to Fenerbahce and stop polluting Arsenal social media.

Anzac

Claudius wrote:
We should be working towards removing Ozil and his whole motherfucking benchwarmer crew. And hopefully all his sycophants follow him to Fenerbahce and stop polluting Arsenal social media.

I don't think the others are 'all in' in supoport of Ozil, but rather Ozil has become the focal point for their own issues and discontent.
That said they can still fuck off by hook or crook in Jan - if not sold, then loaned or even de-registered and paid out = just fucking gone, end of.

Claudius

Loan Mustafi to Hertha. They can pick up just his medical aid and insurance for all I care. Sokratis, Kolasinac. Off. If we send those 4 away, the squad is already much better off. And then Saliba and Nelson on loan. That’s 6 gone for now.

Anzac

Claudius wrote:
I’m as big a critic as any of Xhaka. But I also recognize that Arteta doesn’t have the luxury of shouting “sell”. He has four big games he has to plan for where we need to get 10-12 points. He is unlikely to have sold Xhaka during that spell. And Partey will miss that run of games. With our other midfield options being sub-standard, what should Mikel do? Just toss Xhaka aside and play Azeez? What is the practical way forward for this run of 4-5 games?

Despite Xhaka's improved performance I'd still prefer to play Ceballos in the same position and role and partnered with Elneny until Partey is available = still sell/replace in Jan.

Claudius

Replace well. My biggest fear is that people are so eager to get rid of Xhaka that they will take anything. We need real quality in the middle. Not the current options. Xhaka is better than the current options. He’s just daft and long overstayed his welcome.

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