FEED ME FOOTBALL!
After a pretty drab start to the World Cup, things warmed up nicely yesterday when we witnessed Ronaldo take his game to laser sharp levels of precision, carrying his Portugal team to a 3-3 draw. I have to say, who knows what the f*ck De Gea was up to yesterday, letting a fairly standard shot slip past him, then presenting one of the greatest with all the space he needed for that freekick was careless. I wish he’d play like that Against Arsenal.
This morning we saw France start with a win against Austrailia, goal line tech stepping in to make sure the good goals are counted. I took in the Iceland vs Argentina game. What a performance from the Europeans. Some of the most handsome warriors at the World Cup kept Messi and co at bay for the most part with a deep block so aggressive and tight, I think Tony Pulis may have fondled himself if he were watching. Messi looked very off his game. I don’t understand why a team as ripped with talent as his feels the need to play in such a subservient manner their star man. He was particularly listless. He doesn’t even look like he’s enjoying himself.
Back on home turf, Arsenal announced that Granit Xhaka has signed a new deal with the club, Emery called him a total baller with great hair. If the manager wants him, we have to give the Swiss a 3rd season to break through and shine. I’m not quite sure why there’s so much love for him. I mean, he passes well, but so did Denilson. I have genuinely never seen a player make so many unforced errors in a season. I think he lacks pace and he’s easily rustled.
Still, if Emery has a different vision for him, I’m game to be proved wrong. Xhaka is used to playing in a very disciplined system, he used to play under Favre who’d stop a session if you were half a yard out of position. Emery is that kind of coach.
Looking at the type of midfielders we’re trying to sign, I’m struggling to work out how we fit them all into a system?
Are we going to play a diamond midfield, Torreira at the base, Xhaka and Ramsey in front, with Ozil at the top? With two strikers? Or will we opt for something different, with Xhaka and Torreira? Or will Xhaka be a squad player?
I have no idea… I mean, it’s not like we need just one system these days…
One player rumoured to be off is Jack Wilshere. John Cross reckons he’s done and not part of Emery’s plans. He says he was offered £110k a week, that could rise to £175k if he plays and wins. Mad cash for a player who has stagnated over the years. Still, maybe he could find himself replacing Torreira at Sampdoria? Anyway, good luck to him whatever he does.
The young centre back we’re all yearning for looks like it could be Caglar. His old president had this to say.
“Caglar Soyuncu is set to join Arsenal,”
“Of course we would make a cut from the transfer if he joins Arsenal.
“Arsenal asked us for data on his time at the club, we have put something together for them which will be handed over.”
With his agent saying this…
“Sven Mislintat has been keen on Caglar since he was at Borussia Dortmund”
I hope young Caglar is cool with his data being breached like that…
Right, that’s all I have time for today, see you tomorrow!
x
“Yes Kroos, Kimmich, Khedira are all a tad overrated. Dembele of Spurs when fit is twice the player Kroos is.”
I care very little for Khedira. Kimmich has been operating as a RB for two years, now; and Kroos’ consistency is matched by only a select few.
To then add Dembele into the equation, caveated with “when fit” is a lame argument to even begin with.
Arsenal had a problem last season, it wasn’t xhaka
Wenger misused him
Either the Swiss coach is misusing him or he doesn’t follow instructions cause his position isn’t that of a deep lying playmaker he’s too high up at times and he wanders. He might have a disability I don’t know
He’s not too high up. He’s never close to the CF and never too far from defense
Anyway, just like two years ago in the Euros, we can put to bed the myth Xhaka plays ‘amazingly well’ for Switzerland in their system.
He’s exactly the same plodder as he is for Arsenal.
No Joga Bonito from Brazil since Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo days.
Licht nearly got caught out there and looks like he is cramping up,
Paulinho
Then you are blind.
Why do you suppose the coach isn’t removing him?
Behrami runs himself out of the game
He’s not too high up. He’s never close to the CF and never too far from defense
He’s gotten ahead of the ball plenty of times while Behrami sits. He’s clueless. You don’t have to be close to be close to the CF to be too high up. Is he a deep lying playmaker or what? And where does a deep lying playmaker play? Exactly ahead of the ball
You see, Coutinho and Neymar see one another, are in tune with one another, have chemistry. But the same is not true with Gabriel Jesus. However, Firmino is the kind of intelligent, play-in-combination player who would also be on the same page with Coutinho and Neymar. That’s why he might be better, IMO.
TR7
“No Joga Bonito from Brazil since Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo days.”
lol
the last truly jogo bonito Brazilian side was Mexico 86.
These Brazilian fanboys live in a time warp.
Sanmi – Switzerland have been shit. Brazil have been shit.
No one has played well.
Bahrami is 33 and on a yellow card.
He’s exactly the same plodder as he is for Arsenal
No no they’ll say that’s his role he’s supposed to plod
Xhaka is quite good when he hasn’t got the ball and he isn’t trying to make a rash tackle.
Tbh, he is not even half as effective as behrami.
The fckin idiot that claims xhaka is controlling the game must be on something..
The only thing Xhaka is controlling is his usual rash tackling.
Rewatch what xhaka did in 73-75th minutes that tempo controlling
Bamford
Also coutinho has a lot of games and training sessions together from their Liverpool days. Fluency and chemistry.
I guess Xhaka is pulling the wool over the eyes of managers at the games elite end, but good to know he doesn’t fool some heroes on Le Grove.
A couple of you are clearly in the wrong job wouldn’t you say?
Sanmi has to be trolling at this point
I feel like Coutinho is afraid to be too individualistic lest he be seen to be putting Neymar in the shade.
Forget Neymar Phillipe, go for it and show how good you are.
Could have brought on Firmino 20 minutes ago
Xhaka making 2-3 good long passes to a wing player is nothing new. He did make 2 good ones to Shaqiri but that’s not tempo controlling. People always fall for those long passes ignoring everything else.
Did you just see that?
They put up xhaka number for substitution, he was damn sure he can’t be him. And they corrected it.
They all knew damn well he’s playing his role well
CC
Way to go with an appeal to authority fallacy.
Licht has done a good job in that rb role. Not easy holding off both Marcelo & Neymar
He’s doing it in the 8 2nd mins again. Pay attention you muppets
Neymar is nowhere near hundred percent yet one hopes and believes he will improve in this world cup
I guess Xhaka is pulling the wool over the eyes of managers at the games elite end
Who? Not Wenger surely. And the Swiss manager? They’ve got a small pool to pick from I mean Dzemailli still plays for them and their starting RB is 34 they’re not a great footballing nation. Their best player just got relegated with Stoke. I can’t speak for his former manager at Gladbach he might have been elite
Xhaka does two things: one, make passes — mostly backwards or sideways — that any midfielder on the planet could make; two, make mistakes both with the ball and without the ball.
He is just not a top footballer. Sorry.
And when Emery eventually sees this and replaces him in the starting XI with someone better, we expect “we-got-it-wrongs” from all of his silly supporters.
London
Nothing much gets past you clearly, except you’re one of those happy to chirp up with ‘sideways merchant’ and the like with Xhaka despite the stats disproving that.
So what should be relied upon? Infinite wisdom of the Le grove oracle trust?
Now that was good pressing by Schar
Marko
The same player that has won the Champs league?
Bamford
I said it from day one where emery was appointed. Seeing the way his teams played. Xhaka is nailed on a starter
Xhaka plays plenty of forward passes. He just waits until the receiving player drops deeps towards him before playing it.
His success rate when passing into congestion is very hit and miss.
lol Licht legs gone.
Should be alright for this short tournament though.
The same player that has won the Champs league?
Shaqiri did? Good for him he also got relegated at Stoke
Xhaka just got the armband..lol
“Xhaka does two things: one, make passes — mostly backwards or sideways ”
Granit Xhaka, in the English Premier League, has scored one goal this season, creating 39 chances and seven assists. Granit Xhaka has completed 2509 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 87%, of which 73% were forward passes. – Squawka
73% forward, but “mostly sideways and backward” so says the keeper of knowledge.
Sanmi
Arteta was arsenal’s captain lol
Xhaka plays plenty of forward passes. He just waits until the receiving player drops deeps towards him before playing it
Very true. His passing stats are very deceptive and that’s his only saving grace. Cause if you watch him you see what he is and what he isn’t.
London
Yep. Chemistry. And then you could bring on Gabriel Jesus late in games because his quickness and pace would be good against tired legs.
This Xhaka bashing is not borne out of reality, just a herd mentality.
It’s the. classical mass hysteria effect. It’s predictable and boring.
Granit Xhaka has completed 2509 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 87%, of which 73% were forward passes
So 5 yards ahead counts as a forward pass. So what. Tell us about his defensive stats there his errors leading to goals. What’s it 7? 10 these days?
It’s not surprising the only football qualities English men recognize is pace and robustness.
Xhaka is a very good player. He needs a kante beside him
Marko
Playing xhaka as dm was wengers error
It’s like playing Pirlo has dm
Rather disappointing from Brazil so far.
This Xhaka bashing is not borne out of reality, just a herd mentality.
It’s the. classical mass hysteria effect. It’s predictable and boring
It’s absolutely reality. But you’re right it’s boring and predictable much like the Ramsey stuff. But facts are facts this is without doubt the worst group of midfielders we’ve had in years. They’re both shite
What a shit performance by Brazil.
Xhaka just co-captained/captained a team that held Brazil to pot-shots.
Yet Xhaka will still get the le-grove nonsensical abuse.
You people need to give it a break. Xhaka had a very good game.
I suppose you lot thinks henderson is a better CM THAN xhaka
Marko
Playing xhaka as dm was wengers error
True. Not exactly good in whatever role it is he plays for Switzerland either
Marko
Why don’t you qualify your own statements?
I’ve told you the value Xhaka brings being a deep playmaker, how he’s our technical authority in midfield initiating attacks and passing through the lines.
You’ve got so much of a fixation with him defensively, it’s like you consider him the only responsibility for defending in the side. He averages 3 defensive actions a game and made 4 defensive errors in the season according to Squawka.
I’m looking forward to seeking Xhaka play at Arsenal; in a different team from the one fashioned by the former manager who famously thought he was a box got box midfielder.
People that think Busquet is over rated. What do I expect
CC
The much derided otamendi
Has passing stats of 92 percebr accuracy and 76 percebr forward passes whilst also completing more passes.
When you have the time to make a pass it makes you look better than you are and it doesn’t change the fact he is a lemon on he ball can’t cope with the press and can’t make those passes under pressure like alonso or especially pirlo could.
It’s early but so far I think Spain are my favourites.
They can still do all the tiki taka stuff but with Costa up front they have other options.
Xhaka had a better game than casemiro, fernandinho and Neymar. Go figure
**box-to-box midfielder
Dissenters
But he didn’t, that’s the thing when xhaka doesn’t make a glaring mistake it’s seen as a very good game.
Behrami had a great game and as soon as he came off swizz started being opened up.
@ Dissenter
I just don’t understand it. What exactly has Xhaka done to some posters on here. He didn’t put a foot wrong against Brazil yet if u read through here u would think he had a stinker
I just don’t get the hatred.
Not a bad day for the underdogs
Worst Brazil side since the late 90’s.
“People that think Busquet is over rated. What do I expect”
The Bosquet-is-overrated people are also rabid anti-Xhaka posters.
Let’s ask these Xjaka defenders a few simple questions. Before we get to these simple questions it needs to be pointed out that Unai Emery has made errors on player judgements in the past and will do so again like every other football manager has. Also eradicating Wenger failings in the team cannot bedone overnight. Just because the man leaves doesn’t mean all his baggage leaves with him. Now onto the simple questions. 1. What has been seen as Arsenal’s most serious failing(s) as a football team for a good while now? 2. What do the Xjaka critics most slate… Read more »
‘I suppose you lot thinks henderson is a better CM THAN xhaka‘
Now now,no need to resort to insults.
LG
A deep lying playmaker’s ability to cope with press is dependent on his team mates showing up for passes early. Pirlo couldn’t either that’s why he always come deep to evade the presses. That’s why they are called deep lying.
Zola, just said it better now, ‘xhaka and Behrami had a very good game’.. you know better than him?
Actually I rate busquets. The fact you mention him in the same sentence as xhaka is madness. Xhaka isn’t fit to tie his laces. They aren’t comparable and leagues apart in quality.
All you Xhaka haters should hang your head in shame. Xhaka had a better season individually than some of the midfielders you are asking for us to buy. Just because he plays for us doesn’t make him bad.
I am yet to see a player Bamford likes at Arsenal. Marko the same thing. Paulinho likes Ramsey and Welbeck lol. Ishola can say nothing right about any of our players. It’s just fucking crazy.
Ishola
Xhaka critics are football.novices.
How many tackles does Pirlo do? How many challenges? How many through passes?
He dictates tempo period.
Answer the simple questions please above.
Brazil were reduced to taking long range shots, one of which was superb and crept in beyond the goalie.
Xhaka did his job, it may not have looked pleasant to the eyes.
To all the Xjaka defenders.
Please answer truthfully the questions asked above.
I thought this was an Arsenal site. It is full of negativity and hatefulness towards Arsenal players. What a very weird group has been assembled here.A group of Arsenal haters who’ve never been inside the ground …or even thought about it.
I live and breathe the club but just don’t recognise the feelings I sense among this bitterness
Ishola
I answered you. Look up
Sanmi
Yes I have my own opinion I don’t mindless follow everything a pundit says on TV.
Have none of you heard of appeal authority fallacy. Jheeez
Pirlo certainly could avoid the press. Not a quick player like xhaka but had the agility and on the ball skills to evade and side step. The press before delivering the lethal long pass noone else spotted.
Xhaka is a lumbering Oaf who can spray an obvious long pass to the wings like even rooney
London
“Much derided Otamendi” – nice attempt to undermine the statistical relevance.
Might have had a point a couple of seasons ago, but Otamendi was arguably the best CB in the league this season. That came from Pep coaching and defining the role he has to the team. Funny that
Ps- Dembele is Belgian. What relevance does he have to Kroos?
I suppose you lot thinks henderson is a better CM THAN xhaka
Are you kidding me
Henry
Grow a pair mate. It’s an arsenal blog we are bound to speak about the short comings of some of are worst players. This isn’t North Korea where we have to walk around with painted smiles on.
Horrid Albanian reject. Misplaced passes and fouls is all what Xhaka can do.
Xhaka is.good period
Same with Ramsey
Same with ozil
All they needed was better coaching and playing them in their right roles
Ishola
1 lack of tactics and a system
2 depends on who the Xhaka critics are
Now Wenger’s finally gone there’s a group on here who now get their slagging off quota, by having a go at Arsenal players who are playing in the World Cup. Welbeck will be next but Elneny, Xhaka and Iwobi have already received loads. Should we be surprised? Probably not! Must admit I was really hoping Xhaka would get one of his occasional screamers in the top corner.
Like Alexander, I’m rooting for the Arsenal players to impress. A Welbeck hat trick will see his transfer value go up nicely! (back handed compliment, I appreciate).
Coach/Hillwood
Who are you guys fancying in this last round?
Koepka still doing his bit. Reed looking ominous too..
I like Gareth Southgate, regardless of how the tourney goes for England.
He’s smart, brave and very decisive.
The Xjaka defenders do not want to answer the simple questions above.
Let’s answer for them then.
1. One of Arsenal’s most serious failings regarding the team down the years is weakness off the ball.
2. Xjaka critics slate the player most for his off the ball weaknesses. This is their biggest concern about the player. This is only elevated these concerns because of the position Xjaka plays in the team in front of the defence,
3. This is why Xjaka crtics do not want Xjaka in the team. Why do you want him in the team for?
If you must play a deep playmaker, you will.need a destroyer next to him.
Pirlo+Gattuso
Matic+kante (not so much)
Alonso+macherano
You’ve got so much of a fixation with him defensively, it’s like you consider him the only responsibility for defending in the side
Not true I’m very critical of how shite Ramsey is defensively. And so are you but not regards to Xhaka you seem to pass the buck with him but not with Ramsey. And again he’s a deep lying playmaker who tends to drift all over the place. At least admit he’s a bit thick
CC
So is otamendi a glorious playmaker now because he can pass under pressure.
Xhaka is too limited and can’t work under too many conditions and has an assortment of weaknesses that’s the issue we have with him.
I expect him to improve under emery6among other players but we can still do better. A club which should despite are current status have ambitions as a Premier league winning/contending club needs quality in the middle in the spine not Everton level players
Xjaka is baggage left over by Wenger.
Unai will eventually clean the house,
Can’t be done overnight.
Ishola
That was wengers problem. Playing Ramsey next to him.
Pirlo don’t go chasing the ball or trying to recover balls.
Same with Alonso or even Paul scholes
“I like Gareth Southgate, regardless of how the tourney goes for England.
He’s smart, brave and very decisive”
Too early to be saying this
Ishola, try spelling your nemesis’s name right.
Ishola you might need to see someone mate, the fixation is walking a line.
How the fuck champagne charlie can defend Xhaka when he hasn’t watched the game is beyond me.
Let’s get it right about Xjaka.
If Unai truly wants a pressing team all over the pitch than Xjaka is in trouble.
He is useless at the press 95% of the time.
London,
Southgate has given his team clarity and helped to address some of the jitters England typically have in big tournaments.
He ditched a lot of familiar baggage like the failing starting goalie and crocks like Wilshere.
He’s even announced his starting eleven already, that’s decisiveness.
Like I said…regardless of how England performs, he has my respect.
CC
I’ve a feeling Reed may make it back to back majors,though it’s a tuff call,DJ and Koepka in the mix.
Though would love tommy to nick it,in the club house with a 63 @+2
Who’s your buck on?
“Pirlo certainly could avoid the press”
lol. when pirlo was making you cum no Italian side was playing with the press. Pirlo has been the biggest fraud of the 21st century football.
When he played higher up in Milan either as a left midfielder or as a CAM he was gash and inefficient.