Comments on: How to solve a problem like Xhaka

By: Flashman71

Flashman71 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 16:53:41 +0000

In reply to john. Spot on John he literally is the slowest midfielder I have seen in over 45yrs of watching Arsenal. He gives fouls away constantly beacuse he cannot actually get to opossition players quickly enough and is always late. He is, in my view dreadful an absolute liability. In Italy or Germany the slower tempo of the games might suit him as does the slower pace of many international matches ala switzerland, but for the intensity and constant high tempo of the premiership he is not suitable. As for the continued painting off him as some kind of pirlo type deep lying great passer by many Arsenal fans, it is absolute cobblers, he is crap no 2ways about it.

By: jw1

jw1 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 12:35:28 +0000

As simply as I can equate it?
IMHO Xhaka will never add the worth that his deficiencies cost.
In a game that is decided by a tally of goals– he gives away more than he generates.
A facet acceptable in a defender; but not in a midfielder.
That aspect, distilled-down, tells the tale.

jw1

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 09:42:31 +0000

In reply to DEW. Selling him is the only viable solution, yes I would love it to work but he has demonstrated no qualities thus far that would merit him in any role.Would he get into any other team in top 6? no he is simply not good enough. To summarise, he has poor positional sense, poor awareness at critical moments, he's backwards or sideways pass accuracy is good, forward passing is amateurish at best..all in all he is hopeless

By: john

john — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 09:08:24 +0000

there’s just one tiny, tiny problem which is totally unresolvable, has been obvious from the beginning and should have been obvious before we signed and it is….HE IS SLOWER THAN ANYONE’S GRANNY
that is all that matters. it doesn’t matter that he can pass sideways most of the time and very occasionally forward. he is WAY TOO SLOW for prem

By: Bendtnersbettercousin

Bendtnersbettercousin — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 09:06:27 +0000

In reply to zTOM. That’s my hope re: Torreira.

By: Bendtnersbettercousin

Bendtnersbettercousin — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 09:06:05 +0000

In reply to DEW. Good point and that is a question for the long term I.e. players who fit his system or change system.

By: zTOM

zTOM — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 08:58:58 +0000

I completely agree. Xhaka will never be the DM he keeps being played as, that’s just playing in his weaknesses.
Alongside Torreira doing that job however we should see the best of him and a strong contribution to the team’s play without those key mistakes.

By: DEW

DEW — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 08:38:52 +0000

I accept your positive analysis of Xhaka, but if you are prepared to accept his downsides, then Emery should also abandon his high pressing tactics and building from the back, and abandon becoming a possession based football team. But it is true that xhaka is good player, with good passing range, and some other good qualities.