One of the big questions on the lips of Arsenal fans before the Premier League win over Hull City this weekend was whether Arsene Wenger would hand the big money summer signing Granit Xhaka his third start of the season or leave him on the bench for the third match in a row.
The boss went for Coquelin and Cazorla once again and as reported by the Evening Standard that sparked some anger and confusion from Arsenal fans, including celebrity motormouth and massive muppet Piers Morgan who has proved over and over again that he knows nothing about football, suggesting that Wenger’s thought processes are messed up or that he has bought a player he does not really rate.
I can underst5and their feelings but it is a little harsh when you consider that the Swiss international is new to the EPL and that Cazorla and Coquelin are playing well. Morgan even suggested that Xhaka was a panic buy to appease the Arsenal fans, but Wenger signed him before Euro 2016 had even begun???
Anyway, whatever the thinking behind Wenger’s decision to leave him on the bench, it was Xhaka that was the first to come on and he capped a decent display with a stunning long range strike. With a league cup match next up, away to Nottingham Forest, I expect to see Wenger make changes and surely Xhaka will be starting.
If he does impress on Tuesday night, do you think we will see him starting more often for Arsenal or is he going to find it tough to compete with Cazorla, Coquelin and Ramsey when he’s back?
Bob.
In Wengers voice, Xhaka will be eased gradually into the team..
I believe he will be a regular starter soon. Who buys a player that much and keep him on the bench? You only drop such players if he is out of form or due to tactical change..
Another problem is Wenger sees Xhaka as Cazorla understudy. More of a B2B player so XHaka and Santi will fight for a shirt and not Coquelin. Xhaka and Santi can play well as seen against Watford.
Anyway, good headache for the manager to choose. He should rotate the team at times and keep everyone healthy but of course knowing your first team. I like the fact that our bench looks good in a long while.
Well-done gunners. Happy for the three points. Xhaka screamer is still on my lips. Awesome stuff!
Xhaka does not need that match to be rated.
He played well in EURO 2016.
He belongs to the first XI period.
I want to see more of that yesterday’s screamer and long range passes in tight games.
Replacing who exactly?
Great goal from Xhaka even though not on pitch very long, wouldn’t mind seeing one of them every week. If Wenger see’s Xhaka as Cazorla’s understudy then it makes sence for Xhaka to start on the bench and be intergrated into the team gradually. It does make me wonder though if that means Cazorla might be moving on at the end of this season.
Xhaka in League Cup? No way we endanger any of our important starting eleven on a tier 3 cup. LC for the subs and reserves only that’s should be.
Everyone is talking about xhaka xhaka, the good thing is that I think there’s no team better than arsenal in the midfield department in premier league. that’s just the plain truth. when u look at El neny, that guy is world class and his moves and passes are unique, xhaka is is superb, le cog oh my God he’s just understand, and Carzola he’s just out of this planet. My only concern is Ramsey, he’s good but not serious all the time and my fear is that wenger will include him straight to starting XI as soon as he returns. Somehow unfair for xhaka, Carzola, El neny and cog.
If Ramsey is back Tuesday I’d love to see a Xhaka-Elneny-Ramsey midfield. This line-up would make me find a good stream to watch:
Ospina-Debuchey-Gabriel-Holding-Gibbs-Xhaka-Elneny-Ramsey-Ox-Jeff-Perez.
Regardless of how they play though I think Wenger picks the same XI next week as Hull.
If we’re to control the game against Chelsea next week, wenger has to start with Carzola, xhaka, and Coq. I don’t care if anyone of ozil, Walcott is sacrifice. All I wanna see is xhaka, Carzola and le Coq in midfield.
@planner, deluded or what El neny world class lol drop ozil you most certainly have had some dodgy pills this morning. Ozil is undroppable regardless of him being quite in games what he can produce in that one of moment of brilliance no Arsenal player can barring Sanchez the other world class player. Yes only them 2 are World class
So, when is Ozil going to be dropped? We can’t afford him walking on the pitch against Chelsea next week. Honestly, there were times I thought he was ill or something yesterday.
Mo1 exactly. Ozil can be dropped of course but it’s difficult dropping him simply because he can produce that killer pass from no where.
I like the battle in the midfield. Perez will come good with time and we still have that guy Welbeck.
Was not too keen when hearing Wenger saying that he sees Xhaka as a b2b. For me he looks the Pirlo type player. Why go forward at every chance when you can pass and shoot with a long range accuracy such as he. I’d say his skill set is better from deep. I could be wrong, but he doesn’t look to me to have the ideal athleticism for a b2b. Unless when Wenger says box to box he’s talking about Xhaka’s range of passing.