Arsenal: Coquelin Form Should Not Impact Granit Xhaka
Arsenal has everyone debating who Granit Xhaka should replace. For as good as Coquelin has been, he can’t stand up against the Swiss juggernaut.
Arsenal’s wealth of midfield talent has many wondering what is going to have to happen to see Granit Xhaka start. Wenger spent £34m on this guy and he only started as a stopgap when Francis Coquelin was ill. Getting him into the starting XI is looking like a near-impossibility. Especially with Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin forming the indomitable Coqzorla.
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However, I’m here to propose something on behalf of the ‘Committee to start Granit Xhaka’. The form of Francis Coquelin should not impact Granit Xhaka starting a match. Coquelin is a one-dimensional player who, while solid in that one dimension, cannot stand up to the other facets that Xhaka can offer.
As we have seen in the last two matches, Xhaka has not only scored goals, he has been that controlling factor in the midfield that this club needed. His scope of passing is superior to just about everyone on the team, bar Mesut Ozil. That offensive contribution is crucial when you have a small, quick front three.
Coquelin’s ability to successfully launch a long ball is still highly in question and, while he has indeed shown improvements, he does not yet contribute to all of the avenues of this Arsenal attack like Xhaka does.
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It all seems a bit backwards. Xhaka has been used solely in instances where Arsenal are ahead and protecting a lead. Yet it is Coquelin who would be a wiser designation for that role, as his primary (and only) calling is defense, wreaking havoc in the opposing midfield, and breaking down encroaching attacks.
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I’m not trying to sound ungrateful for what Coquelin is. He is a fantastic competitor with so much to offer this Arsenal side. But in terms of building the best team you possibly can, you have to fit Xhaka in there. Whether that means turning Coqzorla into Xhakacoq or Xhakazorla, it makes no matter.
We can’t just keep waiting for something to go wrong to make an improvement. Nobody’s form, neither Coquelin’s nor Cazorla’s should be able to keep out a clearly superior player.
As of right now, I don’t feel at all uneasy about making the claim that Xhaka is our best holding midfielder. He has more facets than anyone else. He has the strength and intelligence to defend, the composure to control, the creativity to innovate and the brevity to smash an effort from distance.
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This mans needs to play, and no one should be standing in the way of that.