Granit Xhaka

comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 3 minutes ago
Fair play to him yeah, great turnaround and from all accounts been one of Leverkusens best players.

Quite interesting when you read about him, apparantly before Arsenal at club level he had never played defensive mid, I always assumed he had, so it was just Wenger who tried to convert him there? He's so much better as a box to box mid.

I'm not sure if it was the wrong decision to sell him, it did feel a good fee for a player probably just beyond his peak and maybe another season in the prem was too much - but definitely trying to replace him with Havertz has been an absolute disaster
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Wenger, Emery and Arteta (at first) all played him out of position to the detriment of the player and the club. An absolutely colossal feck up, he was so poor until he was finally played further up.

Not going to pretend I was calling for him to play further forward though, I had no idea he could play there as he looked so poor at DM. Credit to those who did suggest it, there were several, even mentioning his time before Arsenal and where he'd plays internationally but I can't remember names.

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 37 seconds ago
comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 2 minutes ago
Fair play to him yeah, great turnaround and from all accounts been one of Leverkusens best players.

Quite interesting when you read about him, apparantly before Arsenal at club level he had never played defensive mid, I always assumed he had, so it was just Wenger who tried to convert him there? He's so much better as a box to box mid.

I'm not sure if it was the wrong decision to sell him, it did feel a good fee for a player probably just beyond his peak and maybe another season in the prem was too much - but definitely trying to replace him with Havertz has been an absolute disaster
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Really? I think you’re better this year. The problem isn’t Xhaka or not Xhaka. The problem is your manager - who has been brilliant for you - once again can’t handle the stress of the run in.
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We are better yeah but almost all of that is down to Rice, he's been a monster for us. We've really missed Xhaka in that left sided midfield role, Havertz has had a couple of good games there but still settling in, and without the type of runs Xhaka makes Martinelli has had a pretty poor season overall (though many factors to that)

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 10 minutes ago
For 90% of his time at Arsenal all you did was moan about him.
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Fair point, some of that was deserved. He did have a pretty poor attitude for a long time, and some of his sending offs did feel like he just wanted off the pitch. But certainly redeemed himself and left on a positive note.

Said this on a lot of discussions but, and having seen them up close many a time, that the signings of jorgino but mostly havertz are bizarre.

I think had arsenal signed any sort of competent cf, you would be 6 points clear at the top. I think you have the most rounded, at least first 11, in the league, bar the cf.

Havertz may have scored a few tap ins to paper over the huge cavernous cracks in his game but imagine toney was available, or you signed watkins or even hojlund I think would score 15-20 in your side.

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 2 hours, 14 minutes ago
For 90% of his time at Arsenal all you did was moan about him.
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Yeah, that's why story is amazing.

I honestly don’t think Xhaka ever fit into PL style of play. Look at him at international level, at Bundesliga he’s really good.

Granit Xhaka, Granit Xhaka
Score a goal, score a goal
Win the game for arsenal
Win the game for arsenal
We love you

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 3 hours, 53 minutes ago
For 90% of his time at Arsenal all you did was moan about him.
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He was dreadful that's why.

comment by Brian Gittins (U1449)
posted 4 hours, 37 minutes ago
Granit Xhaka, Granit Xhaka
Score a goal, score a goal
Win the game for arsenal
Win the game for arsenal
We love you
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Timeless classic

comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 11 hours, 42 minutes ago
For 90% of his time at Arsenal all you did was moan about him.
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Because he was shiiit for 90% of the time here