When I say last season, I meant the 20/21 year. Forgetting that this season has already begun.
In any case, that’s an even stronger case to bring him in considering his ability to play in a few positions for us.
1 Like
He has mistakes in him but the overall performances are consistently solid in this role.
He’s put himself in that permanent position of his every mistake being put under a firm microscope. I think even for this reason alone, Arsenal should bring in another hard-working and mobile midfielder to take that pressure off him.
Top 4 this year then in 2023/24 win the league in our 20th anniversary season of the invincibles!
Written in the stars 
3 Likes
Christ I’m 2 mins into the highlights and Fofana is almost scoring from Xhaka losing the ball under pressure again. Same old sloppy errors every time.
Yeah yeah I gather he had a good game after that but don’t tell me we don’t need a midfielder ffs.
1 Like
Yeah there is too much knee-jerk against the “anti-Xhaka” agenda…
My issues in general are not even primarily about his diabolical mistakes, but they highlight the main problem i have with him: too slow thinking, bad 360 degree awareness, and his passing isn’t as great as people make out - passing isn’t just “completion rate”, it is pace, position, how you pass in relation to movement of your target, how you open up space, when you pass, when you penetrate (hahah yeah right, Xhaka?), etc… this is what truly differentiated players like Cesc - he didn’t just “complete passes” - he invited the receiver to optimize the situation EVERY f*ing time. He and Santi just so rarely did bad things or even questionable things and so often did OPTIMAL things.
Xhaka is the anti-optimal, even when he plays ok.
Now having said that, I will say he has been better overall under Arteta and there does seem to be something there; however, your point absolutely stands - we can improve AND we need better depth anyway.
4 Likes
He said Saka
He meant Xhaka. The praise he gives afterwards can’t be for Saka(doing the silent work and such)
So Wenger did replace Vieira
He said Xhaka lol. I love it. I love it 
1 Like
At the moment I don’t think Tielemans is a shoe in to knock Xhaka out the side. It would need someone seriously good to do that. Improved a great deal under Arteta.
I think it is pretty clear that Arteta likes what he has there… the only situation to change it would be a big signing or an over time thing, and probably that is fair at this point.
Tielemans for me is pure hedge bet against Xhaka or Partey injury and also offers some chance of upside and the dream that finally Xhaka is displaced. But as I have acknowledged, Xhaka is playing pretty decently atm (the over the top “he was amazing” seems to ignore the obvious mistakes he makes that are kind of inexcusable at this level) - and the way Arteta seems to be using him has been smart and effective.
The real test comes later when we have an injury or two and start getting put under more pressure, especially an effective pressing and countering team. It also helps a lot that our defensive players have been really good so we absorb little mistakes higher up more easily.
1 Like
Yeah I’ve always said I don’t think Tielemans is a huge upgrade on Xhaka, he’s more of a adds to our depth signing.
But if we truly want to compete we need to go big on a another CM that’s on Partey’s level.
If Tielemans shows the form of 2 seasons ago, he ousts Xhaka, no bother.
2 Likes
There’s also an argument that he’s a flat track bully who’s out of his depth against the likes of City and Liverpool I guess although last season it was more in the boxes where we lost these games.
But then again most players are.
2 Likes
Obviously City and Liverpool are a different class, but Xhaka seems to very regularly turn up against United and Chelsea, that undermines the idea of him being a flat track bully somewhat.
2 Likes
That’s a fair point.
I thought he was brilliant today.
6 Likes
Yeah he’s actually fantastic in that slightly advanced role.
4 Likes
Even when he had to drop back after shitty Tierney got taken off he still bossed it.