Mikel Arteta says Granit Xhaka was in a ‘difficult place’ following his red card against Burnley in December but says the Swiss internatinoal has been ‘phenonemal’ since coming back into the side on Boxing Day.
In the absence of Thomas Partey, the 28-year-old has been a constant in the Gunners midfield in the last three weeks, starting all five matches of a recent unbeaten run.
While his performance in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace veered from the sublime to the ridiculous, Arteta likes what he’s seen from a player who he continues to consider one of the club’s leaders.
Ahead of Monday’s game with Newcastle, Arteta reflected on Xhaka’s influence: “After the red card [against Burnley] and with the history that he had, he was in a difficult place and we had to try and bring him back where we believe he can be and where he should be – which is being one of the leaders of the team and giving us stability and the presence he can provide to the team and to the club.
“I think since he’s been back he’s been phenomenal; he’s playing really, really well. Against Palace, he had some really important moments and he’s still young. He’s still a player who can evolve. It’s great for us to have him back.”
Given the number of minutes that Xhaka has racked up recently, it’ll be interesting to see how Partey’s return to fitness influences the boss’ thinking as the relentless schedule continues.
Finding a balance between resting tired legs and affording regular game time to players in form is something that is obviously at the forefront of Arteta’s mind.
Last time out, Kieran Tierney was given a breather after complaining of a tight calf late in the day. He’s not sustained any serious damage and is in contention to feature this evening but similar decisions could be taken with other players in the coming weeks.
“We have been trying to manage it but the reality is that the fixtures are what they are and we didn’t have a pre-season, which is why – and we’ve talked about it many, many times – one of the reasons we wanted the five subs,” he said.
“It was exactly that. But this is just the consequences and this will happen more and more, I think, and to more clubs.
“But when you are winning, you want to be in the team, when someone is doing well then you don’t want to take him out because you get asked: ‘Why are you taking him out?’
“The players also want to continue to play because they can’t see the bigger picture but it’s our responsibility to protect them. We could have taken a big risk with Kieran against Palace and it wasn’t the right one to take because we could have exposed him big time.”
Really curious to see what he can do with Partey alongside him, but I still think we should try to sell him in the summer. Not consistent enough, and a questionable personality. Could help to raise a few quid too.
totally, xhaka might get us 20 odd millions and we would be able to upgrade on him with the likes of bissouma or like-wise players.
Though I agree that 20 million is probably fair, he’s such a strange player that I expect his market to be fairly niche. He could be a massive massive player for a smaller club in any league other than PL, I feel. Some parts of his game are truly elite, but his limitations in certain technical areas cannot be papered over in PL, where you have no time on the ball. This part isn’t talked about as much but, he is also NOT a squad player; Xhaka needs to stand centre with a C on his arm preferably. He would… Read more »
I’d rather see Partey Ceballos. Xhaka is way too ball-hungry. When he’s played with him before Thomas barely gets a touch. He’s often missed out entirely with Xhaka punting low value passes out to the fullbacks. Ceballos wants fewer touches and can dribble out of danger. That’s the partnership I want to see.
Tbf, wasn’t that one game and Party’s first for the club after 3 days initiation?
I’d like to see how it progresses with a few games, but currently I’m hoping Arteta is having words with Xhaka about what his future squad role will likely be, or if he wants to engineer a move to Italy or elsewhere on the summer so he can remain key starter.
From 7amkickoff on palace game:
“Rob Holding completed more final third passes than Xhaka, and had more key passes. Rob Holding was literally more incisive and direct with his passing than Arsenal’s midfielder.”
His cameo against a tiring Newcastle aside, this isn’t the first time. The sooner Partey replaces him the better imo.
What is wrong with the Mo-Partey midfield? It was the best midfield performance we have seen from this team in a big game in bloody ages against manure. Mo can play the no-frills holding role perfectly and is mobile enough to cover us against counters, and this allows partey to play box-to-box and get into more advanced positions. Add to that having ESR ahead of those two (a proper, mobile and modern midfield) is another tasty prospect that should be mutually beneficial.
I like Mo, he’s a good squad player and when he’s at his bravest he can be a really good player. But too often he takes the safest option. In recent weeks he’s fallen back into playing backwards or sideways – i’m not sure the ball would even get to ESR from him against low-blocking sides at home. Increasingly I think Mo is one of those ‘away from home’ players, particularly in Europe.
I agree this is his tendency, which is why he sucks with Xhaka (and Ceballos), both don’t deal with the press well and if Xhaka is played properly (shown right and pressed) then a Xhaka-Mo midfield is terrible. But Partey is a completely different level to Xhaka, which is why I see Mo as being more effective there (and why he was against Manure). Midfield combinations and opposition tactics and strategies have major impacts on how effective a player is on a game per game basis.
You obviously don’t watch Dani play have you?
I think you got it wrong, Cabellos is the ball hoarder in MF. He holds onto it for too long and does unnecessary things. He slows down attacks..
I’d go back to Elneny, Partey Combo gladly, rather than see Luiz/Cabellos play with Partey
Agreed. He carries way too many negatives, despite the green shoots we’ve seen recently. We should ask: is he a player than can take us to another level? For me, it is a resounding No.
Yeah it was always that. Solid in some aspects, not cutting in some. I think if fans are really used to a certain performance level, they don’t know what a higher level looks like. Just compare Santi and Xhaka in that position. I think there is a resounding difference between the two. It seems like he wants to play Xhaka the rest of the season. Makes it more interesting who we would sign, if we’d sign a CM/CAM. I would really like to see a playmaker besides Partey that could also play CAM. Or the other way round. Would he… Read more »
Please ,it’s not fair to compare anyone with Santi.
But that is the kind of player we should be searching for. And I know he was one of a kind, but that should be the goal.
No alongside Partey makes sense. Partey makes up for Mo’s size. Mo’s loss of form probably due to fatigue. Mo’s greatest attribute is his engine — but even he fatigues. It’s a pairing that makes sense. We should try partnering Partey with players who are actually ours before partnering with loaners.
Thanks for not jumping on typos / misspellings! Not always the case …
Im so glad his contract ends in 2023, otherwise we’d probably be rolling out the red carpet for a new contract for him. Im convinced that our decline is directly correlated to him controlling our midfield.
Agreed, among other awful and sub par signings. Not a bad player just never what we needed.
At the price he cost €45M, it is well and truly subpar bordering on just plain bad. He has these little runs of moderate form for a few games on the back of a few wins and everyone thinks, “oh maybe he’s the answer again”, but then EVERY time things go quickly back to normal. He get’s exposed on the break, he has his usual rash moments, teams press him hard again and it’s back to “why is this guy continually the first name picked in our midfield”. It’s groundhog day again (and again and again…). If we want to… Read more »
Exactly. He’s the definition of average. A bit good, a bit bad, the odd great goal and the odd complete brainmelt. We’ve got enough evidence now to know that he’ll never shed the worst parts of his game and what Arteta says above about him still being young is a bit odd. Average players = average teams.
So Guardiola looked at Arteta’s hair and thought, “Ah, that’s the younger version of me.”
Meanwhile, Arteta looked at Xhaka’s cheekbone and thought, “Ah, that’s the younger version of me.”
Jokes aside, the idea of “immobile deep-lying playmaker” died years ago when Pirlo was humilated by Oscar after being pressed all game.
Someone should have warned Klopp about the deep-lying midfielder problem before Liverpool bought Tiago from that other bastion of out-dated football, Bayern.
immobile deep-lying playmaker, emphasis on immobile, which is the common trait shared by Guardiola, Arteta, and Xhaka.
I am not entirely convinced Arsenal have controlled the midfield in the past three or so years, barring a few outliers.
One could argue that the midfield units in the matches, as a whole, have failed to click more often than not.
Doesn’t absolve Xhaka from responsibility regarding his static, defensive passing displays, of course.
I’m not sure I can think of another player who so clearly has absolutely zero love for the fans either. I don’t blame him for being mad at the Crystal Palace game, but never have I felt any connection with him and the fan base whatsoever. The few interviews he’s done, anything even bordering an apology has very much been with respect to his teammates. Feels to me like he regards us as his enemy, and something to put up with rather than embrace. I wish him luck and he certainly tries, but I’ll be happy the day that our… Read more »
Has his strengths
Some obvious weaknesses
Questionable leadership
Loved by his teammates
Thrown tantrums on the pitch
…
Looks like we have always had a Gallas reincarnation all this while.
Our very own Xhaka.
William Xhaka ?
Gallas was a b-hole, always put himself first. Xhaka clearly is a team player, not exactly the best, but a team player
Borehole ?
Bunghole?
But
Other than playing for Spurs and the feud between him and Kolo Touré, I like Gallas. He was a very good player, an offensive CB, better than Vermaelen in that category.
Gallas was obviously a better player than most fans remember. On the other stuff, it’s hard to get by the fact that Wenger thought so highly of him. My own impression was not favourable, but I have to admit that Wenger might have known more about him, and Arsenal, than I.
Gallas was a better player
Wished he could sometimes score the scrappy winning goal in difficult games like Gallas did everywhere he played at.
He did have a hand in some important goals. Ask Ireland.
Phenomenal? Really?
Willian and Xhaka both have copies of the Arteta nudes.
If the rest of him is Lego, there’s not a lot going on down there.
You have lego nudes?
Arteta and the dangers of overplaying (Tierney particularly), if that happens.
Good that he is aware of it.
He’s been better. But the bar was very, very low.
We build a team around him. A losing team
Up until we signed Partey, Xhaka has been the best of a bad central/ defensive midfield bunch. (Lucas Torreira should have been included in this season’s squad, but I digress) The trouble with Xhaka is that he blows hot and cold – for the most part cold. He is definitely the best we have at the moment to partner Partey (try saying that when you’re pissed) but we should be looking to move him on in the summer and bring in an upgrade. Top priority, however, must be a top class attacking midfielder to replace Mesut Ozil. Willian and Co… Read more »
Attacking mid is definitely a priority, despite ESRs exceptional performances over the past few games (bar the last one against Palace). I’d argue however that we need a partner for Partey as well, as all of our current options are basically rotational first team quality at best. I think currently partnership wise Elneny is more naturally suited to partner Partey, though I’d like to see Ceballos get a run out and see how they perform together. For future options, Sabitzer would be a dream signing, but we might have to go the Gabriel route and make a slightly more shrewd… Read more »
If we sign the right player they can fill both roles – Emi Buendia is one example of such a player. He might cost us a bit, but his creativity and workrate in attack and defense is immense that he can fill a Santi Cazorla type role. Similarly, I could potentially see Emi developing into a deep-lying playmaker too.
Agreed. Good post.
He is indeed a very good option, and probably a reason why Arteta and Edu have been looking at him with huge interest if rumours are to be believed.
A little bit off the beaten track, I’d like to see Arsenal go in for Otavio Edmilson from Porto. Similar player to Buendia, and has been good in the limited CL games I’ve seen him in
Maybe Buendia isn’t even better than ESR. So why waste the money?
I’d love to Jack Grealish in an Arsenal shirt.
He could be mustard alongside Partey, with ESR in the pocket behind the front line.
He would cost the earth, but we need to start showing some ambition again at this club. Still young and a proven talent in the Premiership. We should get in there and snap him up before Utd, City, Liverpool or those cunts up the Seven Sisters road beat us to it. In the right side, he could become a world class player.
Grealish would be awesome, but he’s WAY WAY WAY too expensive now. >70M quid.
I was hoping we would buy him when Villa went down; yes, he wanted to stay, but a big enough offer (which would have been a lot lower than now) might have made the difference.
We showed ambition by renewing Ozil’s contract at £18 million a year and spending £72 million on a flop. Then we splashed out on unmotivated has beens that we’ll never be able to move on. Now we need to get our finances in order, stop sucking up to super agents and spend our money more wisely. There are plenty of very good players in the Championship who are Premier League quality but half the price. That is our market.
*see
Hopefully xhaka continues this form so we can cash in on him in the summer and find someone more suitable.
Probably just me reading too much into a quote, but I don’t like MA saying “because you get asked: ‘Why are you taking him out?’” Hopefully, it is nothing more than a quote, because I believe in most situations Mikel doesn’t worry too much about what other people say – he does what he believes is best for the team.
Xhaka has the experience to play by the way been managed,
Arteta need to get his best moments other wise, knowing when his fit ready and weak because his defensive coverage is better than Ceballos,
Football is matter of defensive and winning goal, dribble and possession at the end you lose the game is nothing, Arsenal need to be more aggressive players from the middle who can dictate and contest with opponents that make Patrick Vieira puts his opponents fear some.
I like Xhaka, but just see his not athletic enough for the EPL. He can easily be outrun and is slow in possession.
A strange player of conflicting abilities.
Football is not a footrace , life is not for the swift
It is if you need to stop an attack without getting a red card.
how has he become phenomenal?
That part worries me a lot. Think he’ll try to make him and partry work in the long haul, meaning he’ll not go in the summer and they’ll be a staple of our midfield. Hope I’m wrong.
i hope you’re wrong too. we all do. i think partey hopes so too.
Please don’t feel you answer for me or anyone else. “We all do” is absolute bullshit.
Xhaka will always divide opinion among fans.
But three coaches can’t seem to bench him.
A curious paradox I must say.
Is there something the managers see that is not that obvious to some fans?
If Arteta remains manager of Arsenal, my gut feeling tells me Granit Xhaka will still be an Arsenal player next season.
I think what managers see is a pile of rank average central midfielders and a board that’s been slow to invest in an improvement. Xhaka wouldn’t last anywhere near as long at an ambitious club.
If you are referring to Emery, Ljungberg and Arteta, they haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory. So, that they cannot bench him doesn’t mean much.
Wenger has his record, so I would say one good manager can’t seem to bench him.
I meant Arsene, Emery and Arteta.
Ljungberg’s sample size is too small to be reckoned with.
I know some fans who were happy when the free kick flew in against Chelsea, but were sad it was off Xhaka’s leg!
Yep, now that Ozil is leaving, all the negativity will be thrown at Xhaka, while some other underperfomers will go scot free..
Maybe it’s the Virgo in me but “Phenomenal “is awfully strong terminology
Arteta has a big problem. Everything he says or does is based on how he likes someone as a person.
It was interesting comparing City-Palace Sunday to Arsenal’s match against Palace some days before.
Palace played the same formation and tactics as against Arsenal. A very diciplined 4-5-1 in defense, with little space between the defense and midfield.
So what made the difference? City scored three goals after corner kicks and one on a free kick. High quality efforts, with a little luck at it.
They seemed to think a little quicker than our players against the same team, the quality in the decisive moment also a little higher.
Remember Zaha didn’t play yesterday and has carried them a lot this season coupled with Eze
We played 120 minutes on 09.01.2021, Crystal palace played 90 minutes on 08.01.2021. Crystal palace had an extra day rest, when they played us on 14.01.2021.
then crystal palace played ManCity on 17.01.2021, with ManCity having played on 13.01.2021, therefore ManCity having an extra day rest
ManCity have a better team but it is also tired legs which is affecting performance
Sounds like excuses to me.
You really believe in this?
It’s a fact, are you denying the facts as they have happened? I hope for a win tonight but I will tell you more, Newcastle will have had two additional resting days since their last game. Fact.
We have not been a strong physical team for many years now.
That we should have a better squad is all we wish for, but as of now we don’t have squad depth because most of our acquisitions have been substandard.
I really don’t see this “tired legs” problem. That’s why we have a (huge and highly paid) squad, isn’t it? The problem is, as we found out against Palace, that we were, seemingly, a different team without one player. I hope that’s not true or we could be in real trouble as the season progresses. “Tired legs” also didn’t appear to be the case with City as they crushed Palace yesterday – that’s because it’s down to a difference in quality of course, not tiredness. We certainly have the numbers but equally certainly not the quality in depth. That’s a… Read more »
His sliding tackles are very risky. He will get more red cards and we will get penalties against because of them.
As Wenger said (I think it was to Mustafi): Stay on your feet.
Instead of sticking to this rather worn out narrative – a narrative that flies in the face of recent evidence – we should rather acknowledge the improvements we have seen in his tackles.
When was the last time he was red carded for a mistimed tackle?
The point blank block against Palace was great. It’s only been ignored in the narrative because it came from Granit Xhaka.
Sometimes I think the Xhaka hate has more to do with his indiscretion in that ill fated game against CP than his all-round footballing ability.
I understand having to rest some players in this season of all seasons, but it cannot include giving willian playing time. He offers absolutely nothing to the team. We have enough players that we can rotate without sacrificing a place for willian that effectively makes us play with 10 men.
Wrong forum. But can I just say I have never disagreed more with blogs than his previous post. Ozil was never right for Arsenal, even his 1st game was a disappointment. Never was thrilled by the signing and definitely not by the contract extension
Luckily you are just a nobody.
Resting holding , and Bellerin maybe
Seems that when Xhaka did not have to worry about defendsive part, he could offer much more on offensive side. Would love to see Partey+Xhaka+Emil combination.
what can a snail offer in attack?
Have a little look at some of his defence splitting passes. That’s what.
He’s been good yes, but phenomenal? Come on Arteta! He’s done his one and only job to a decent standard in the last couple of games, is that really all we are asking of our players these days? No wonder we’re struggling.
“While his performance in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace veered from the sublime to the ridiculous…”
We watched the same game?
Jeez…… Artetas half mad….. now he’s all in protecting lads with minor injuries.
Compare that with November/ December 🥴🥴
But it’s true bout Xhaka …… he’s like what Forrest’s mum used say……. “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”