Arsenal fans, it’s time to get excited. Granit Xhaka may have cost the club an estimated fee in excess of £30 million, but he looks like the real deal. The Switzerland man was outstanding at Euro 2016, earning two Man of the Match awards before falling victim to Poland on penalties in the knockout stages.
Xhaka is a top prospect and Gunners fans will be licking their lips at the thought of the Swiss star threading passes to Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in advanced areas.
In fact, Xhaka could be the missing piece in Arsene Wenger’s jigsaw. The Gunners have lacked depth in central midfield for quite some time, but they now boast at least three competent footballers in that particular position.
And while Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny are arguably much more physical than Xhaka, the former Wolfsburg man’s vision and fluid style will appeal to Wenger’s second nature. He might not be a regular at first but Xhaka has the talent to shine, and he could be one of the first names on Wenger’s team sheet in the not-so-distant future.
The Switzerland man created ten clear chances for his nation at Euro 2016 – more than any of his compatriots. And his creativity and ability to pick a pass will take some of the pressure off Mesut Ozil’s shoulders. The German finished as the Premier League’s top assist-maker last season, but Arsenal were often accused of being over-reliant on their number 11; he was sorely missed when Wenger left him out of the starting line-up.
Xhaka can take some of the workload and try to create openings from a deeper position. Ultimately, his inclusion should mean that Ozil is able to find space in front of the back four.
Just take a quick look at his performances for Mönchengladbach last season. Xhaka controls the tempo of a football match. In a way, his style is similar to that of Bayern Munich star Xabi Alonso. He is capable of dictating play, he is capable of controlling proceedings, and he is capable of changing momentum.
If truth be told, his performances at Mönchengladbach don’t tell us too much, as the Bundesliga is an entirely different style to the Premier League. Based purely on his international form and highlights, though, the signs are positive. Wenger rarely invests a significant amount of money and the fact that he was willing to spend over £30 million shows just how highly he must rate the youngster.
The Premier League is now more competitive than ever, and Xhaka’s skill set will prove beneficial as the Gunners attempt to keep pace at the top of the table. With both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, and Chelsea set to improve this season, a number of England’s elite sides will slip out of the top four – that much is inevitable. Xhaka will be desperate to keep Arsenal in the top group of teams, especially since the Swiss star is desperate to lead the Gunners to the latter stages of the Champions League, a crucial factor when making the decision as to whether to leave Mönchengladbach.
Xhaka has already endeared himself to Arsenal supporters, and his warm, and open personality will certainly help to keep fans onside. He looks like he has the right temperament, the hunger and the desire to succeed at the top level and that is exactly what Arsenal need. The Gunners are short on bite in midfield and Xhaka will bring controlled aggression to the side, which could be crucial if Coquelin’s injury issues continue to hinder his progress at the club.
The Switzerland star will be desperate to please Wenger ahead of the upcoming campaign and has a handful of pre-season fixtures to try and impress his new boss. Right now, Coquelin probably remains Arsenal’s main midfield ‘enforcer’ but Xhaka will be quietly confident of slotting in alongside the Frenchman. In fact, Gunners supporters are probably quite excited to see a budding relationship between the two youngsters in centre-midfield, especially as these two starlets could be set for long-term careers at the club.
There is plenty of pressure at the Emirates Stadium right now, but Granit Xhaka has shown that he can handle expectation, both at the club and international level. He isn’t the complete package but he has the potential to be world class, and Arsenal fans should be excited ahead of the new campaign. Xhaka is the future, but he can also be the present if required.
Premier League fans, watch this space…
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