Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka has had a torrid time at his seven years at the Emirates, and there were a few times that we thought we had seen the last of him in the famous Red & White jersey.
But he is arguably having his best ever season for the Gunners, and yet again starred in yesterday’s 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, which sent us back to the top of the table.
He hardly ever gets injured and was voted our Player of the Month for September, which is evidence of how he has turned around the opinions of many Gooners who regularly stated they wanted him out of the club.
His enormous experience means that he is the de facto captain over his young team-mates, despite Martin Odegaard holding the honorary position, and he has been instrumental in the team’s new found confidence and wining mentality.
Yesterday, he celebrated his 200th game for the Gunners,, and is only the 17th player in Arsenal’s history to reach that milestone, and he is understandably very pleased with his record. “Two hundred games in the Premier League for this amazing football club makes me proud,” he told Arsenal.com after the game.
“It makes me proud for myself, for my team-mates, for the staff I’ve had in the last seven years. It’s not usual to make 200 games for a club like this, I always say I want to give them something back. I feel at home as well so hopefully there’s more to come.
“Two hundred games, you can’t achieve that from today tomorrow. It needs a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline, a lot of people were included around me for the last seven years and in the end it’s hard work.”
It has taken a long time but Arsenal are currently sitting happily at the top of the League, as well as our Europa League Group, and he feels that our position is testament to our improvement this season. “This is what we want to see, us players, the fans and the football club,” he added. “We deserve to be there in my opinion, now we have to keep going, keep believing in each other that we can do something special.”
Congratulations Granit, you and your leadership qualities are making Arsenal fans very happy, and long may it continue….
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Xhaka epitomizes professionalism this season, he is playing really well in the more forward role and he has to be one of the most reliable and consistent players this season. I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I now really appreciate what he does for the team as a player and a leader.
Xhaka epitomizes professionalism this season, he is playing really well in the more forward role and he has to be one of the most reliable and consistent players this season. I wasn’t his biggest fan, but I now really appreciate what he does for the team as a player and a leader.
Well I always thought Xhaka was Mr Snail who could easily leave the team a player short, because of his recklessness. What has happened this season defies logic, as Xhaka has resurrected himself more improbably than Lazarus and has also been our star performer. Amazing turnaround and long may it carry on. I’m also so happy to see Reiss Nelson show what he is capable of. Let’s hope Reiss has found his feet as well, because we are sure to get injuries, More than anything we need a high level midfield anchor in case Thomas gets injured.
Sean I do of course totally endorse your post. But as to your “defies logic” phrase, I believe there IS a very logical explanation for his transformation and a transformation it certainly is!
Seems logical to me that NO player can so suddenly improve so tremendously almost overnight. But what HAS changed is his position. No longer is he facing tricky forwards and having to lunge into missed tackles through lack of pace and then give away red cards and pens galore. Now his passing is further up the pitch, where it has real use and he has developed an eye for goals too. His increased acceptance, even approaching devotion, among us all, myself included , but only since his move upfield, has worked the “miracle”!
Why neither Wenger, Emery, nor even MA til this season had thought to do it though, well that DOES defy logic. Wht IS clear is that so many of his critics, with myself firmly at the vanguard, have massively underestimated his resolve to win, his sheer character and his turning from the pantomome villain into the panto hero.
Like all pantos, he has had both good and “evil”( I use that word only figuratively) though unlike pantos, BOTH in the same person. Lastly, I think we can all see HE is the REAL player captain at the club, despite his “demotion” from that role.
“Why neither Wenger, Emery, nor even MA til this season had thought to do it though, well that DOES defy logic”
Completely agree with this (and the post in general) – I have no idea why he was limited in such a way for 6 seasons. I haven’t watched much of Switzerland at all, but several of those who have have commented that he plays like this for them. Our previous managers must have known that – why did they persist with playing him in a way that clearly wasn’t working? And why did he allow it?
He deserves his success, he toughed out some very difficult years at Arsenal and not many have the mental strength to do that.
I can’t argue with that summation Jon. Xhaka’s transformation has totally surprised me. I never thought I would be admiring Xhaka. Let’s hope the ‘new’ Xhaka lasts a long time.