Xhaka shade + 3 exceptional prospects you’d hope Sven has earmarked

by .

Processed with VSCO with p5 preset

Rumours all over the place about who we’re going to sign to replace Aaron Ramsey. Denis Suarez has thrown his name into ring, and I couldn’t be any less excited there. The versatile Spaniard had a spell under Emery back in the day, he clocked some solid numbers considering he was 20, but I’m not sure he’s really hit the heights at Barcelona.

Emery might want to bring in a player he knows can work under him. I’d certainly imagine Suarez can do more of the things the manager wants for a fraction of the price, but I think we could do better.

The player everyone hopes we’re in for this summer is Kai Havertz (watch here for a download). The precocious teenager is lighting up German football this season. He’s notched 16 games, 6 goals and 5 assists. Those are Sancho/Nelson like numbers. The rumour is Bayern Munich are going hard for him as they look to refresh a squad that’s lacking ideas… however, it’d be rude of Arsenal not to make a play for him. He’s quite the player to watch on the ball, and he’ll certainly be a force to reckon with for many years… not just that, he’ll have resale value, which is I assume something the club are keen on doing as they look to play catch up with the big boys.

There’s a lot of talent around Europe at the moment. Matthijs De Ligt and Frenkie De Jong look ready to make big moves this summer, and again, they’re two players who are going to have long illustrious careers ahead of them. De Ligt shouldn’t be controlling games from defence as a teenager, and De Jong shouldn’t be running games with such swagger. The thought of Manchester City signing them makes me feel a touch ill.

That’s the big question for Arsenal fans. Are we able to compete for the cream? Or do we have to take lower level gambles that come with more risk? Is even Pepe of Lille in our league? Is a Sarr move our type of buy?

It’s an arms race for talent, it’s just a shame that the game is so rigged in the favor of the clubs that are using nation wealth to fund their opulent squads.

Still, there are plenty of good players out there, and Arsenal have a lot of smart people scouring the plant for exceptional talent. I also think we have the luxury of a great city, and a backroom team that are going to be more willing to pull the trigger quickly. I’m looking forward to Arsenal pulling off some audacious deals, as well as the continuation of excellent off the radar signings like the ever impressive Guendouzi, and the superb Lucas Torreira.

Granit Xhaka has been heaping praise on Unai.

“It’s definitely my best season so far,”

“Without doubt, I think I’ve taken another step forward.

“It’s the best I’ve felt at Arsenal since I came to the club and the coach has had an enormous influence.

“He prepares us all and we have a plan. We know how to do it with the ball and without the ball. We know how and when to stand where.

“Emery is like Lucien Favre [whom Xhaka played for at Gladbach], a freak who pushes us back and forth, 10 times, until everyone understands.

You can’t help but read the subtle dig, I mean, we don’t need to keep going here, but it still gives me great satisfaction after all those years of people telling me Wenger was a tactical mastermind let down by the players. It doubles down on an observation someone from Germany shared with me about Xhaka’s failings… he went from a ruthless tactical overlord, to someone who just wanted the players to express themselves without the contraint of a plan.

The jury is still out for me on Xhaka. I think we can do better. But I am happy to see him improve. Less big game mistakes would be lovely. My concern is if you’re still brain farting at 26, that might just be your thing.

Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments! x

109 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bamford10

Mystic

“Are we going to start crucifying players for conceding penalties now?”

If the tackle or foul is a dumb one, then yes, of course. That is what you do when players do dumb things: criticize them for it.

raptora

Torreira just came in and in under 3 months of playing has shown us the proper standard of class that we have to look out for. It looks like his advantages far, far outweight his disadvantages (height). He’s given us more than we thought even. Especially his forward passing game has been absolutely vital to our team. He looks like someone that would be an automatic starter in our team for thr next 5 years plus. Young, can get better. Why not even become the world’s best DM at some point?! He’s the type of transfer that we have to… Read more »

mysticleaves

Bamford

Are you saying Xhaka’s tackle on Zaha was dumb? If so, how else would he have approached the situation?

Graham62

Got to love Wenger’s comments on tweets deciding in game substitutions etc.

Read into this as you like, but isn’t this his way of saying social media cost him his job?

The master of deflecting blame………. Amazing!

mysticleaves

“Torreira just came in and in under 3 months of playing has shown us the proper standard of class that we have to look out for”

I mean, I am not denying this but in that same period he has made like 3/4 forced or unforced errors that left the opponent with a clear sight lf goal. Only the keeper saved. Those it change his qualities? no

mysticleaves

That’s all on Xhaka for me this month. Except in game commentary of course…

Bamford10

Mystic Well, if I remember it correctly, yes, it was a bit dumb. He stuck his leg out after a Zaha step-over, making it easy for Zaha to sell the contact and the penalty. I didn’t make a big deal of it in game — though others did — because Xhaka was being asked to play LB, which is not his position. He has been making dumb tackles since he arrived, though, and many of us here have highlighted them. This is something he does. He has been better this season, no doubt, but people are going to continue criticizing… Read more »

Bob N16

Graham, blaming….your new favourite word!

I never suggested that Emery should be blamed, I simply questioned whether it was reasonable to suggest he hadn’t quite got the balance right. You, because of your jaundiced antipathy towards the old manager, now won’t have a word said against your new ‘messiah’.

You appear to be living in a’black and white’ world.

Chris

I get that people will continue to criticise Xhaka where they feel it is warranted, but it just seems that it is still the popular thing to do when put up next to his poorer performances last season and a lot of the good things he has been doing are not given a lot of recognition. For example the penalty give away and letting the ball run across him are the kinds of mistakes that other players have made, such as Torreira (who has been fantastic) but we were bashing Xhaka last season so it’s oh too easy to do… Read more »