Granit "The Hacker" Xhaka | Likes his reds

Brwned

Have you ever been in love before?
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
50,829
Another typical Arsenal player?

Looks good on the ball but when his team really needed him today he went into hiding, and in the crucial moment he completely blew it.
 

VorZakone

What would Kenny G do?
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
32,618
He wasn't impressive the whole tournament though. Most passes is a stat I don't care about, he was in own half mostly anyway. He looks a good player, just not with cutting-edge abilities.
 

bucky

Full Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2011
Messages
9,572
As funny as that was, it's unlike him. He usually was Gladbach's best player against better teams.
 

DWelbz19

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
Joined
Oct 31, 2012
Messages
33,741
A bit, yeah. What would frustrate me the most is that he's not very quick. Seemed custard pace at running back, which is probably what causes him to scythe so many players down.
 

TrustInJanuzaj

'Liverpool are a proper club'
Joined
Mar 26, 2015
Messages
10,664
Looks like a typical Arsenal player, nice pretty player but absolutely no intensity of passion and a lack of bottle. Not a signing that will make any difference to them at all.
 

ReDDHDevilS

Full Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Messages
1,078
Location
RagCafe
Let me rewrite what I commented on Xhaka a few days back,

Xhaka is a bigger, stronger version of Blind although Blind has an excellent footballing brain. Both are slow, can pass the ball well, defensively sound although Xhaka is a bit rash at times, and both have good leadership qualities.
 

bucky

Full Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2011
Messages
9,572
He wasn't impressive the whole tournament though. Most passes is a stat I don't care about, he was in own half mostly anyway. He looks a good player, just not with cutting-edge abilities.
It was fairly obvious in the first 3 games that he was the one capable of playing the decisive pass. He's not just recycling possession and he was on of their better players during the group stage.
 
Last edited:

yumtum

DUX' bumchum
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
7,117
Location
Wales
Did I hear a commentator say OMG? Awful cringe moment right there.
 

Brwned

Have you ever been in love before?
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
50,829
He wasn't impressive the whole tournament though. Most passes is a stat I don't care about, he was in own half mostly anyway. He looks a good player, just not with cutting-edge abilities.
I thought he was very impressive against France. Considerably less so in a game of genuine importance.
 

FCBarca

Mes que un Rag
Joined
Oct 19, 2010
Messages
14,246
Location
La Côte, Suisse
Supports
Peace
This is the Xhaka I know. Moments of brilliance, moments of him losing his rag and moments of ineptness - all to varying degrees. He's just not put it altogether and consistently been brilliant. Granit is young so he may still make that leap to greatness but I suspect he'll never get there...being a Gunner will not help in that regard either
 

yumtum

DUX' bumchum
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
7,117
Location
Wales
Mark Lawrenson, he's awful.
You could probably put most commentators names in your post to be fair, I wish they would introduce a crowd only option and have no entitled people harp on during a game I'm trying to watch.

Also Xhaka is highly rated but shouldn't Arsenal be trying to get in a striker before they strengthen an area where they're already pretty strong.
 

JazzG

Resident Arse.
Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Messages
2,682
What a stupid thread this is, going by some of the misses today you could say those guys bottled it as well? Such a stupid phrase that has grown in popularity in recent years.

Thought Xhaka had a decent tournament overall, didn't have a great performance against Poland but they're a hard team to play against. As Germany and Portgual found out:

Also Xhaka is highly rated but shouldn't Arsenal be trying to get in a striker before they strengthen an area where they're already pretty strong.
Should we ignore our weaknesses until we get a striker? A ball playing DM was a major problem for us last season, striker of not this position had to be addressed.
 

yumtum

DUX' bumchum
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
7,117
Location
Wales
@JazzG a striker has been your major weakness for years, Giroud really isn't a striker a club with title aspirations should be content with, you had a really good defensive record last year, I just don't see how roughly €40m on a DM can be more urgent than a striker that'll score a bucket load in which Giroud will not.
 

theyneverlearn

and this one probably never will
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
5,681
Location
In Coleen's Womb
@JazzG a striker has been your major weakness for years, Giroud really isn't a striker a club with title aspirations should be content with, you had a really good defensive record last year, I just don't see how roughly €40m on a DM can be more urgent than a striker that'll score a bucket load in which Giroud will not.
They tried to sign Vardy, so Wenger knows he needs to improve in that area.

Although I've not seen them linked to any further strikers, but that doesn't mean they're not trying.
 

yumtum

DUX' bumchum
Joined
May 10, 2009
Messages
7,117
Location
Wales
Trying to sign Vardy is pretty much my point, unless he was going to base his team around Vardy then he'd have been as useless as Giroud.

And Higuain is reportedly available and has been for a while, I'm not sure if he'd suit their style either but it says something when you're continuously going into a season with a sub standard Giroud and a winger/striker hybrid in Welbeck, all I'm saying is that the Arsenal fans must find this annoying when he's always recruiting for midfield yet constantly passes the striker position, yes he could be trying behind the scenes we'll never know, but if he is then he's been failing to pull the trigger for years and that's more worrying.
 

Brwned

Have you ever been in love before?
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
50,829
What a stupid thread this is, going by some of the misses today you could say those guys bottled it as well? Such a stupid phrase that has grown in popularity in recent years.

Thought Xhaka had a decent tournament overall, didn't have a great performance against Poland but they're a hard team to play against. As Germany and Portgual found out:



Should we ignore our weaknesses until we get a striker? A ball playing DM was a major problem for us last season, striker of not this position had to be addressed.
I think it was more indicative that he was literally hiding behind players when Switzerland were trying to get back in the game, and then on top of the game, and the team were content to bypass him. Shaqiri was the one that wanted responsibility while Xhaka looked utterly lost.
 

JazzG

Resident Arse.
Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Messages
2,682
@JazzG a striker has been your major weakness for years, Giroud really isn't a striker a club with title aspirations should be content with, you had a really good defensive record last year, I just don't see how roughly €40m on a DM can be more urgent than a striker that'll score a bucket load in which Giroud will not.
I don't think you need to tell me that, I can't wait for the day we replace Giroud. You need to address positions as and when players become available. We did when it came to DM we required. It doesn't matter when we sign a striker, even if it is 31st Aug, just need to make sure it is done. Problem is there really isn't much available and those who are available firstly aren't even that good and even they're going for stupid money. Personally wouldn't be against signing another wide forward if we can't get a CF

Our problem wasn't just scoring, our midfield play was bang average. Cazorla helps paper over the cracks but we've missed a good passer from deep since Arteta's decline/injuries. The amount of times players like Ozil were dropping down to almost in front of the CBs to collect the ball was simply not on.

I think it was more indicative that he was literally hiding behind players when Switzerland were trying to get back in the game, and then on top of the game, and the team were content to bypass him. Shaqiri was the one that wanted responsibility while Xhaka looked utterly lost.
I think that is pushing it, he had a poor game against them but you're getting a bit carried away there. I do have some concerns about Xhaka but none of what you're pointing out. Apart from that game he had a good tournament for the Swiss.
 

RooneyLegend

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2013
Messages
12,963
Looks like another Michael Carrick to me. Can be a piece in a great puzzle, but expecting him to be the biggest piece would be a little much. Wenger has to get some quality around him or he will drown.
 

Synco

Lucio's #1 Fan
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
6,437
Looks like another Michael Carrick to me. Can be a piece in a great puzzle, but expecting him to be the biggest piece would be a little much. Wenger has to get some quality around him or he will drown.
To me, Arsenal has the best selection of CMs/OMs in the Premier League. Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Özil - you can build a top notch midfield with Xhaka and any two of these. I also liked the Ox when I saw him playing centrally. And most importantly, all these players match up stylistically.

So quality and quantity is definitely there, they got the missing piece in Xhaka now, so it's mostly a question of injuries/fitness. Which was quite a problem in the past, of course.
 

RooneyLegend

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2013
Messages
12,963
To me, Arsenal has the best selection of CMs/OMs in the Premier League. Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Özil - you can build a top notch midfield with Xhaka and any two of these. I also liked the Ox when I saw him playing centrally. And most importantly, all these players match up stylistically.

So quality and quantity is definitely there, they got the missing piece in Xhaka now, so it's mostly a question of injuries/fitness. Which was quite a problem in the past, of course.
Ramsey is a positional nightmare, he seems to be out of position half the time cause he fancies himself as a second striker. Jack wheelchair, that says it all although he's genuinely brilliant when he's on it. Cazorla will probably be replaced by Xhaka cause he's defensively inept and Ozil isn't really a midfield player, he's great in attack but throw him in midfield he's not nearly as commanding as he should be.

I think Wenger should give up and Jack getting over his injuries, and buy midfielders that'll complement Xhaka. He's basically a G.Silva with better passing, so get him his own Viera.
 

RooneyLegend

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2013
Messages
12,963
To me, Arsenal has the best selection of CMs/OMs in the Premier League. Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Özil - you can build a top notch midfield with Xhaka and any two of these. I also liked the Ox when I saw him playing centrally. And most importantly, all these players match up stylistically.

So quality and quantity is definitely there, they got the missing piece in Xhaka now, so it's mostly a question of injuries/fitness. Which was quite a problem in the past, of course.
Ramsey is a positional nightmare, he seems to be out of position half the time cause he fancies himself as a second striker. Jack wheelchair, that says it all although he's genuinely brilliant when he's on it. Cazorla will probably be replaced by Xhaka cause he's defensively inept and Ozil isn't really a midfield player, he's great in attack but throw him in midfield he's not nearly as commanding as he should be. The OX hasn't got anywhere near the football brain needed in midfield, certainly has the ability but just doesn't see the pitch well enough.

Don't get it twisted, these lads are a talented bunch but none of them are the sort of specialists to get arsenal into the next level. Sounds like a bunch of players you'd have to land you another 4th place next season especially with the improvements that us and city have made in the managerial stakes.

I think Wenger should give up Jack getting over his injuries, and buy midfielders that'll complement Xhaka. He's basically a G.Silva with better passing, so get him his own Viera.
 

The Purist

New Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
1,323
Supports
Arsenal
That's news to me
Given the quality of your post, I'm not surprised. As Archie said, Cazorla is not a liability there. In fact, he actually played as a defensive midfielder a few times for Malaga and was pretty good in many of our best defensive performances recently (the win away to City the season before last comes to mind in particular)
 

Synco

Lucio's #1 Fan
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
6,437
Ramsey is a positional nightmare, he seems to be out of position half the time cause he fancies himself as a second striker. Jack wheelchair, that says it all although he's genuinely brilliant when he's on it. Cazorla will probably be replaced by Xhaka cause he's defensively inept and Ozil isn't really a midfield player, he's great in attack but throw him in midfield he's not nearly as commanding as he should be. The OX hasn't got anywhere near the football brain needed in midfield, certainly has the ability but just doesn't see the pitch well enough.
Much too negative. In my opinion, Arsenals positional problems were down to structural/tactical problems much more than to inept players.

And the players that are going to lose their place to Xhaka are most likely Coquelin and Elneny, because Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker, not a CM.
 

Pexbo

Winner of the 'I'm not reading that' medal.
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
68,413
Location
Brizzle
Supports
Big Days
I think they're 2 signings away from winning the title.
We say this every year. What is never taken into account is that the level of some of their current squad will drop and their rivals strengthen too.

Two more signings and they'd win the title in 15-16, I'll agree with that. I think 16-17 will be a completely different kettle of fish.
 

Dirty Schwein

Has a 'Best of Britney Spears' album
Joined
Feb 6, 2012
Messages
31,667
Location
Miracle World
Supports
Luton Town
We say this every year. What is never taken into account is that the level of some of their current squad will drop and their rivals strengthen too.

Two more signings and they'd win the title in 15-16, I'll agree with that. I think 16-17 will be a completely different kettle of fish.
I was joking but I completely agree with what you said
 

sammyvine

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 24, 2012
Messages
2,006
Arsenal will never win a title with Wenger. Especially with Guardiola and Mourinho in the league now

There chance was last year
 

JazzG

Resident Arse.
Joined
Feb 3, 2004
Messages
2,682
Looks like another Michael Carrick to me. Can be a piece in a great puzzle, but expecting him to be the biggest piece would be a little much. Wenger has to get some quality around him or he will drown.
If he turned out like Carrick I'd be quite happy with that, we have players like Ozil/Ramsey/Wilshere who want to be on the ball. The problem is those guys were constantly having to drop ridiculously deep, we need someone who can distribute from there effectively and do a job defensively.

To me, Arsenal has the best selection of CMs/OMs in the Premier League. Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere, Özil - you can build a top notch midfield with Xhaka and any two of these. I also liked the Ox when I saw him playing centrally. And most importantly, all these players match up stylistically.

So quality and quantity is definitely there, they got the missing piece in Xhaka now, so it's mostly a question of injuries/fitness. Which was quite a problem in the past, of course.
The problem with the options we have is none of them excel at the base of midfield, we had a work around solution with Coq/Cazorla but in games where we had to be on the front foot they were shown up. Without those two we struggled badly for balance in midfield, some games we would be chasing but our midfielders not able to move the ball effectively. Like I've mentioned before times when Ozil was dropping deeper than our DM because we couldn't find him between the lines. He was available but players didn't have the skill set to find him.

I think they're 2 signings away from winning the title.
I've heard that one before :nervous:
 

Ish

Lights on for Luke
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
32,054
Location
Voted the best city in the world
We say this every year. What is never taken into account is that the level of some of their current squad will drop and their rivals strengthen too.

Two more signings and they'd win the title in 15-16, I'll agree with that. I think 16-17 will be a completely different kettle of fish.
And for all their technique, passing and "style" in that midfield, the most important aspect seems to be a problem year in, year out - their mentality throughout the team. And that's hard to fix with a couple of signings. Whenever the pressures really been on Arsenal (top of the league or thereabout), they've folded like a house of cards in the wind.
 

Synco

Lucio's #1 Fan
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
6,437
The problem with the options we have is none of them excel at the base of midfield, we had a work around solution with Coq/Cazorla but in games where we had to be on the front foot they were shown up. Without those two we struggled badly for balance in midfield, some games we would be chasing but our midfielders not able to move the ball effectively. Like I've mentioned before times when Ozil was dropping deeper than our DM because we couldn't find him between the lines. He was available but players didn't have the skill set to find him.
In that case, Xhaka is your man. I watched a lot of Mönchengladbach's games over the last 3-4 years (Lucien Favre is my single favourite coach) and Xhaka was the main man in build up play throughout his time there as well as an important defensive factor. Feeding the higher positioned CMs/AMs/wingers was his main offensive duty there and most certainly will be at Arsenal.

There is of course no guarantee that he'll manage the transition to the PL immediately, and he still has some weaknesses (mainly aggression/concentration-wise and perhaps to a lesser extent in terms of defensive positioning). But to me he was the best available option for a true DLP on the market this summer.
 

Archie Leach

Gooner
Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
9,031
Location
Hollywood Upstairs Medical College
Supports
Arsenal
In that case, Xhaka is your man. I watched a lot of Mönchengladbach's games over the last 3-4 years (Lucien Favre is my single favourite coach) and Xhaka was the main man in build up play throughout his time there as well as an important defensive factor. Feeding the higher positioned CMs/AMs/wingers was his main offensive duty there and most certainly will be at Arsenal.

There is of course no guarantee that he'll manage the transition to the PL immediately, and he still has some weaknesses (mainly aggression/concentration-wise and perhaps to a lesser extent in terms of defensive positioning). But to me he was the best available option for a true DLP on the market this summer.
Excellent.