Granit Xhaka: Page 41 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Granit Xhaka

Shady

Xhaka: “When I once got a red card, the referee said to one of my team-mates, ‘You know how Granit is, he loses his head’. Just because I lost my head against Burnley, for example, it is not like I lose my head evry time. To put me in this box like this I believe is wrong.”

The image of a ref actually saying this cracked me up 😆

goon

😆

Qwiss

Lack of self awareness there is staggering. He's been lucky on a couple of occasions since his last red too. Guys a moron.

awooga83

Yep, he doesn't have the ability to reflect on his own actions and see and acknowledge his own faults. It's the same as the outburst to the fans, nothing to do with his action it's external reasons that creates all his problems.

KurtEisner

Never his fault. It's why he's stagnated as a player. If things go bad, he doesn't change something, he just tries the same things harder.

banduan

he's been good these last few games, but he's always got that daft moment in his locker.

He's still a statmonster in terms of passing, he still gets involved and move the game along more than any other player. Not the first time this has been mentioned but he's still top 5% of players for progressive passes, and passes into the final 3rd - busts any myths about him being a back-pass merchant.

https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/scout/11160/Granit-Xhaka-Scouting-Report

There are definitely reasons Xhaka always gets picked. But I don't for one minute think Edu and Arteta believe we shouldn't be getting an upgrade on him. It's a shame Lokonga got covid just when we could've used him in some of the lower profile matches.

est

Hate this guy with a passion. Someone said he's a cunt but he's our cunt? Well I don't consider him ours. Can't wait for the day he fucks off.

Did Arteta actually give him a new contract? Or was it just speculation after his move to Roma fell through? I can't remember it ever being made official.

jones

He did extend him last August, new contract to 2024.

Ricky1985

They took up an option in his contract for a year's extension.

Clrnc

Yep apparently to protect his "value"

Anzac

banduan wrote:
he's been good these last few games, but he's always got that daft moment in his locker.

He's still a statmonster in terms of passing, he still gets involved and move the game along more than any other player. Not the first time this has been mentioned but he's still top 5% of players for progressive passes, and passes into the final 3rd - busts any myths about him being a back-pass merchant.

https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/scout/11160/Granit-Xhaka-Scouting-Report

There are definitely reasons Xhaka always gets picked. But I don't for one minute think Edu and Arteta we shouldn't be getting an upgrade on him. It's a shame Lokonga got covid just when we could've used him in some of the lower profile matches.

For mind I don't think it's been about passing backwards as it has about slowing our transition AND playing it safe. I suspect his stats have been buffed because he sees more of the ball than most, and if he then plays short safe passes his numbers stay better than any by volume. I also think his progressive passing and final 3rd numbers are an outcome of our previously being very left flank oriented under Arteta, accompanied by the overlapping runs made by KT as I think that is where much of Xhaka's passing numbers come from.

Qwiss

Completely agree Anzac. Xhaka has never been a terrible player, he has quite a bit of ability but he does slow our play and is prone to just switching off and making stupid mistakes. Its always been the way, nothing about it has ever really changed. Its frustrating we've stuck with him so long.

Anzac

Qwiss! wrote:
Completely agree Anzac. Xhaka has never been a terrible player, he has quite a bit of ability but he does slow our play and is prone to just switching off and making stupid mistakes. Its always been the way, nothing about it has ever really changed. Its frustrating we've stuck with him so long.

IMO it's a legacy from AWs' time in that he said he gives a player 3 seasons from joining before making any decision about their future with the club.

Following from this is the comments seen often that Xhaka is not only the best/most effective CM but is crucial to our play and is missed when he is not available, so he needs to be retained. IMO the problems with these comments are they lack the context of both our CM options and the type of football we want to play. Under AW it wasn't so much of an issue as AW liked to use numbers in the middle as part of his mobile rondos and so Xhaka had plenty of options and cover to mitigate his flaws, whereas under both Emery and Arteta he is now being judged alone as to his suitability for his role.

goon

Qwiss! wrote:
Completely agree Anzac. Xhaka has never been a terrible player, he has quite a bit of ability but he does slow our play and is prone to just switching off and making stupid mistakes. Its always been the way, nothing about it has ever really changed. Its frustrating we've stuck with him so long.

I've always thought the real issue has not been how long we've stuck with him but how long he's had such a big role. When Torreira was playing well Xhaka looked a good partner, same with Partey. As the partner to someone better he probably wouldn't have been all the centre of so much attention. Go further and make him a rotational player and he'd probably be valued. Instead he's been a key figure, not just in midfield but the whole side.

Anzac

goon wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
Completely agree Anzac. Xhaka has never been a terrible player, he has quite a bit of ability but he does slow our play and is prone to just switching off and making stupid mistakes. Its always been the way, nothing about it has ever really changed. Its frustrating we've stuck with him so long.

I've always thought the real issue has not been how long we've stuck with him but how long he's had such a big role. When Torreira was playing well Xhaka looked a good partner, same with Partey. As the partner to someone better he probably wouldn't have been all the centre of so much attention. Go further and make him a rotational player and he'd probably be valued. Instead he's been a key figure, not just in midfield but the whole side.

Agreed, and again it requires the context of just how poor our midfield and recruiting have been and for how long to enable that perception to take shape.

banduan

we've been way too worried about what we lose with Xhaka than what we gain from leaving him out and starting again afresh.

Can't wait for Lokonga to get back to fitness and see more games. Hopefully ready for Pool.

Burnwinter

Man, fuck this cunt forever. Forever.

I never want to see this cunt in an Arsenal shirt again.

QuincyAbeyie

Hear, hear.

Coombs

Even if you can somehow tolerate this man, his reputation is a good enough reason to get rid of him. Anyone can chuck themselves at him and get a call in their favor.

flobaba

There he goes. Our cunt yeah?

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