Definitely don’t think tonight happens with Xhaka in the team 
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Dunno, Xhaka has been part of plenty abysmal fucking performances in his time at the club.
I’d much prefer to see him start to Vieira, absolutely don’t get me wrong, but I don’t necessarily think we’re automatically winning yesterday if Xhaka starts, not by any stretch.
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Yeah we didn’t beat West Ham despite him being in the team
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This guy is a machine. The machine has been in need of repair more than usual this season.
How did his thread escape?
It was like playing with 10 men with this guy. Jorginho made an immediate impact when he came on in his place. We could suddenly exchange a few passes in midfield and and build up properly.
Played out his skin pre-WC but he naturally can’t maintain that level. Fair play to hin for lasting this long at the club but I think his days as a starter here are numbered.
We all more or less knew he was being phased out. Arteta basically admitted that with his comments.
Good season but yeah.
Did fuck all except get into a little spat with Grealish that just made him look like a petulant loser at 3-0 down.
Had his best season in an Arsenal shirt but absolutely not good enough to be starting given the level we are realistically aspiring to reach.
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Thanks for the memories but it’s time to say goodbye…to his place in the starting eleven.
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It’s not about his form or his indivudual level…
He simply doesn’t have the tools when you’re being this pressed in midfield… Anyone expecting more from him is foolish tbh.
Arteta got 1200% out of him this season, but you can’t expect one of your 3 midfielders to be this limited on the ball and to rely only on his off the ball movement and getting into pockets and dangerous areas, when you’re competing against such a quality opponent… They had 5 midfielders last night, we had Partey, Odegaard and Zinchenko.
I also think Arteta should’ve thought about playing Partey and Jorginho together a while ago, and I even said yesterday or a day before Jorginho was a good option to start even if Xhaka is fit.
The easiest way to raise the quality of the WHOLE fucking team is to get a better, more rounded midfielder in stead of Xhaka next season.
Just for example… Best case scenario. Imagine Bellingham in this role. Someone who can do everything Xhaka does. He can press, tackle, he’ll help defensively, he will run and get into positions… But he also has the technical quality to relieve the pressure off of Odegaard, off our left wingers and left backs too… To draw opponents onto himself and let our left wingers/backs make runs, Odegaard too…
Also being more helpful in just keeping possession in midfield alongside Partey and Odegaard, helping us break through a high press, at the back… What was a huge issue last night.
Xhaka is useless there even in top form, he just can’t do that, you can’t blame him. He was only good when everything was going good and he has spaces to run into and just make a simple quick pass. Even with a lot of space he often looked like a donkey this season, not to mention when there isn’t any.
Again, when you’re being pressed and almost dominated, you need ALL of your midfielders (all players basically, but midfielders in the first place) to have that minimum of technical quality to get out of press at times while Xhaka has the press resistance of an average GK.
Again, we’re a completely different team next year if we get a top competent midfielder in stead of Xhaka, withouth making any other changes.
Probably makes a similar impact and change Jesus made (on all our attackers) compared to Laca.
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I agree with a lot of people about this guy, Arteta has managed to get a lot out of him this season but in reality he’s pretty average.
If he stayed at the club and had a bit part role I’d be happy, with other clubs upgrading their first XI, we need to do the same.
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Update!
10 wins
4 draws
3 losses
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Thought he was top drawer today.
Yep. He does love playing against Kante too.
Quality performance. Quality season. I’m still not over him. Being a bum last month though.
I love this guy, can’t believe the turnaround in the last 2 years.
I absolutely hated this cunt more than any other player in history at that palace game, said I’d never forgive him either.
Needs to stick around next year even if we relegate him to the bench.
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Personally I’d like his sticking around to be conditional towards being relegated to the bench.
Though honestly even if we do revamp the entire midfield I’d be very happy to keep him Partey and Jorginho together for our CL campaign next season
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When some players started slow he was on it from the off and made sure we didn’t stoop any lower than a level which handles Chelsea quite comfortably. Broke up play early and got us playing many times. Have to hope he can take this into Sunday.
They mentioned it on Sky Sports but his heat map was almost that of #10s.
This team can really explode with the right player in his spot.
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