Granit Xhaka has admitted Arsenal need to convince people they have the mentality and the quality to do better than last season and qualify for the Champions League, but the Swiss international is convinced things are going in the right direction.
The Gunners missed out by a single point at the end of the season, with many pointing to the Newcastle game as one which cost us, but Xhaka believes earlier results against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton were just as costly.
Speaking to ESPN, he addressed comments he made after the game, insisting he was speaking collectively about the need to fight.
“If the situation comes again, we have to be much cleverer, much different, in a different mentality,” he said.
“If something is not going well with the ball, we have to change the game. This happened against Palace as well, away, when we were smashed 3-0. We want to play, to play, to play.
“We lost balls and they scored. First of all, you have to be ready to fight. After, you can do the other things. This is my opinion. This is what Mikel wants from us, to be ready from the start. In this game against Newcastle, we were not in the game from the start to the end.
“But I don’t believe that our season was gone because of the Tottenham and Newcastle games but before. We have Southampton, Brighton, Palace where we lost and this was the killer in my opinion.”
However, he sounded a confident note going into the new campaign, after the arrivals of players like Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and the imminent signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko, a player who may rival him for a midfield position.
“I can see something is growing here. Sometimes you need more time than the people want, but I have a feeling that we are in a good way.
“Last season, we were very close to achieving something and this season, let’s start and after we can speak again after 38 games.
“Hopefully we are where we want to be.”
You can watch the full interview via ESPN below, in which he addresses the potential move to Roma last summer, and lots more.
I can see and feel it too. But please tell Neville too. We won’t tolerate his attention seeking this time around.
who cares what he thinks?
We aren’t stacked with white, tattooless enland internationals so he’ll always hate us. Little racist scumbag.
Whatever you think of Neville, I cannot think of anything he has ever said that would label him as remotely racist.
No need to get into this territory.
Gary has his flaws but I can’t think of anything I’ve seen/heard that would suggest he’s fuelled by racism. I’d be the first to call him out if there was.
Having said that, completely agree that I couldn’t give a monkeys what he thinks of arsenal.
It seems his attention seeking is working then, as I use this site for all my Arsenal news and haven’t heard a word Neville said in years, yet you make him the first topic of discussion.
Like him or loathe him, he is very articulate, speaks a lot of common sense and there is a grounded-ness about him that is easy to like. I can see him being a coach in the future.
#COYGs
Exactly. There’s a lot of common sense in him 99.99999999% of the time. Except when he decides he has to go to ground.
Glad he’s still with us, let’s see how the new season goes for him.
This reference to Xhaka’s indiscipline every time he is mentioned has become hollow and lame.
If all Arsenal players had his commitment and fight, we’d be playing CL football this season. The lad leaves it all there on the pitch for the club. Love him or hate him, he is a warrior who loves the club.
The childlike glee and pristine joy on his face when that belter flew past David De Gea is one of my high points of last season.
This revisionist history is nonsense. The facts remain: he’s an average player who gets sent off far too much. Still wish he was leaving, he doesn’t make us better. Now many people are fighting each other to be Xhakas PR agent and I don’t get it one bit.
You know he doesn’t make us better? That’s madness. You have no idea what happens in training and behind the scenes. Despite his odd brain fart he is clearly a clever player with a good mentality and as mentioned in original reply, he comes across very articulate. Very true and I too can see him in management in the future. Also let’s not forget he may be the oldest fielded player at points next season. Important with such a young team
His passing isn’t good enough. He creates absolutely nothing and only ever takes the safe option. Postionally he’s ok, that’s more down to his role than anything. In the tackle I’d say he’s average. Why should we all now be content with a middling player anchoring our midfield? Because he said some nice words? Look at the dynamism of top midfielders in Europe, he doesn’t come close to them. It’s not the end of the world that he’ll probably start 35 PL games for us, but I don’t have to like it.
I think you’re watching a different Granit Xhaka to everyone else. His passing is excellent. It’s his huge turning circle and on field temperament that are his biggest flaws.
He was good last season on the whole. I’ve been a big critic of his for a long time but credit to him, he’s come through a lot of controversy which takes a great deal of mental strength.
His passing is accurate, but not inventive enough. He takes far too long to release the ball. Has he ever passed between the lines? Not very often, and we’ll need that with Jesus buzzing around in the middle. I still think a player with his technical ability, range of pass, and experience should provide a bit more danger from deep. I will say he was solid toward the end of last season, I think we can do much, much better.
“You have no idea what happens in training and behind the scenes. ”
You apparently do then. Tell us.
Only things I’d change about Xhaka are his pace and agility. Pace I can even do without. Seems his hips are in fact made from granite, which explains why he needs the right gust of wind to receive the ball on a half turn.
He has turned up and given his all for the last 18 months. And those lapses are less frequent. I’d still take Tielemens though.
NB IMO The dismissals are a bit of him being an easy target to punish the team, especially his first two seasons.
Well said. They are the flaws he cannot change. We were looking good at times with partey at the base and Xhaka was playing further forward on left side. Zinchenco is an upgrade in that position and I hope to see it given a try soon.
Apologists. There’s nothing we haven’t seen about Xhaka’s game. Not a bad player, but has his limitations and fell well short of the expectations when he signed him.
The captain behind the scenes. Great guy and apart from that impact injury where they landed on his leg, he’s always fit and available.
He’s a captain behind the scenes alright. No wonder we haven’t qualified for a CL place since he joined.
Interesting how quickly people change their minds about a player. I don’t think he’s bad but he’s not the level we need. Also, some acts are unforgivable. I can understand him being angry with those silly fans who booed him, but to throw the shirt to the ground is something I can’t forget.
He didn’t throw his shirt to the ground, he stormed off down the tunnel with it in his hand. Please stop perpetuating the lie that he threw the shirt on the ground when he didn’t. “Unforgivable”? It never happened.
I thought he threw it to the ground as he entered the tunnel. If not, I stand corrected. But it was still shocking and deeply demoralizing behaviour from an Arsenal captain.
But don’t get me wrong, as long as he wears the shirt, I’ll cheer him on. But I just think given all that baggage plus his level of play, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if he left.
He threw the captain’s armband to the ground. Auba had to pick it up from the floor. Made mocking gestures to the crowd. Then walked out the pitch, opened his shirt and stormed off the tunnel. Let’s not rewrite history just to be kind to Xhaka.
I really can’t believe you guys talk about a 10-second period of time over and over after years. It’s like a father who blames his son for a mis-bevaviour anytime the mom speeks of the son. Just stop it. It was one occasion out of years of service. Good or bad, talk about his football abilities rather than that fxcking moment. Please.
Being able to fight is a must.
When quality in midfield is needed, we need better than what Xhaka offers
I love Granit, I’m so glad he’s still here, I believe he really loves the club and I want him to succeed. If we can win the Europa League it would be magic.
Something’s growing here
And what it is ain’t exactly clear (to Gary neville)
It’s time you stop, Gary, cut the sound
Everybody knows that you’re a clown
I think Granit should grow a moustache. It would suit his face.
If Cedric then shaved his off and they swapped shirts no one would ever notice.
he could twirl it menacingly at the officials
Couldn’t agree more. Like a villain from a silent movie….
I am really excited about the new signings but for us to succeed the mentality of the club has to change. We can’t be soft and nice anymore, we have to be able to have a plan B, a plan C, if plan A is not working. I might also be in the minority, I like Arteta a lot but he does to not have the tactical knowledge to be our manager at this stage of his career. We need someone experienced like Conte to take us to the next level. How the fk did he get that sh*t sp*rs… Read more »
If we don’t buy a quality third striker then we’re fucked.
Right. The third (!) striker is the thing that will fuck us. Unlike depth behind Tomi or depth behind Partey, or how we actually play. Gotta have that third striker who barely makes the 18.
Just out of curiosity, who would that be? Do you have a list of names?
I’d take a risk with Dominic Calvert Lewin. Good in the air (which we don’t have) link up play is underrated also. Unfortunate with his injuries last season but I’d give it a go. IF Everton don’t go silly with demands.
Was thinking the same myself, if Jesus gets injured you’re left with Eddie
Martinelli still plays for us Fats
I came in looking for ambiguously written comments. There were none. I’m disappointed, arseblog news comment section. When did fifth grade humour left us?
Surprised you didn’t get a rise out of that
Intelligent enough to adapt positions even though his body has its limitations. Mikel has proven that if you are willing to work around his deficiencies he is a very very good pro. I think now the maturity in their relationship and deep understanding of what he can and cannot do has really refined his role in the first team. I can see he may have the effect on the team that Luiz did on Gabriel. With some other potential left 8 coming in. It would be a fitting way for him to finish his career with us this season. Although… Read more »