Granit Xhaka: Page 33 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Granit Xhaka

Anzac

Ray wrote:
Our downfall started when we replaced Cazorla with Xhaka. That isn't Xhaka's fault per say. It's like when we replaced VP with Giroud and kept playing him until we went out and got Auba.

Except instead of replacing him, now we've decided to give him a new contract and spend all of our transfer funds on a CB, all thanks to poundland pep.

Perhaps in terms of the squad from then until now, but the underlying issues have been here far longer than Xhaka or Giroud, both of whom were typical AW 'square pegs' players. Speaking of which I'd suggest Cazorla was the last such 'square peg'/internal solution that 'worked', but even then he needed a partner to do the defensive heavy lifting.

Shady

speedy wrote:
Klaus wrote:
Staying is only part of it. Even if you think we could have used him for another year we didn't have to go and offer him a new longterm contract on top of it. We're stuck with him now, just like with Willian and Soares.

I never got the feeling we'd be stuck with him. Managers like him, players like him. It's only fans that don't like him.

Wenger liked him, played him, failed and got sacked.
Emery liked him, played him, failed and got sacked.
Arteta likes him, plays him and is failing.

The fact that those managers rated Xhaka is more a reflection of their flaws than of Xhaka being the right man for us.

Meatwad

if you like xhaka you are shitty at football.

Anzac

Ignoring the debate as to his bona fides, IMO he should be binned off for his comments at the Euros as his follow up to his previous strop with the supporters.

Arteta gave him a clean slate re his strop with the match going supporters pre COVID, and now his comments have basically stabbed Arteta in the back as well as saying the players at the club are not up to his standard so he wanted to leave = fuck him and the horse he rode in on.

Ray

Didn’t he also blame the strikers once for missing chances when he gave a penalty away. His team mates must love him.

Mirth

In fairness they did vote him to be captain.

I can understand why managers initially take a shine to Xhaka, he's capable of being excellent in the right circumstances but he's just too volatile for a CM

Ray

Mirth wrote:
In fairness they did vote him to be captain.

I can understand why managers initially take a shine to Xhaka, he's capable of being excellent in the right circumstances but he's just too volatile for a CM

That may be more to do with their not being too many alternatives, and the guy just got booed by fans, they weren't going to just turn their back on him.

awooga83

And I question that decision if I saw the captain do what he said in the palace game I wouldn't think if him as a leader and the person you put any sort of responsibility on.

Anzac

awooga83 wrote:
And I question that decision if I saw the captain do what he said in the palace game I wouldn't think if him as a leader and the person you put any sort of responsibility on.

IMO it was a far worse display that Gallas' sit down protest in the centre circle.

I wonder if we will look back at this as being the beginning of the end for both Arteta and Edu, and Xhaka as having seen off 3 managers and club structural rebuilds.

Ray

He reminds me of Gareth Barry.

flobaba

Ha. That’s exactly who he is. Gareth Barry.

Klaus

Barry had drive. Xhaka is more like Charlie Adam. 9/10 left foot that somehow ended up on a 3/10 player.

Kel Varnsen

Xhaka is awful. Hated it when we signed him in 2016, and can't stand him as a player. Slow as fuck at everything he does. No wonder Arteta likes him.

HomeSteak

Rohit

Unreal. Arteta isn't going anywhere.

Anzac

HomeSteak wrote:

Fuck off.
Please tell me he isn't getting a pay rise ffs.

Clrnc

He did.

2025 lmao.

QuincyAbeyie

Have we not learnt that there's no protecting of value in giving these guys a high salary? It just makes them even harder to sell.

Shady

What the fuck is going on? We seemingly tried to sell him twice, couldn't get the price we set, so did a complete u-turn and locked ourselves in with him for four more years, gave him a payrise and gave him the captain's armband. I really despair.

FEBravo

I'm sure this is linked with the "illness" of Auba/Laca. Not to want to put a tin foil hat on, but those are the two other captains/leaders, get along well, and after all the statements Xhaka made recently about last season, his love for Mourinho, etc., wonder if there is something there.

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