Arsenal: Granit Xhaka Caution Completely Unnecessary
Arsene Wenger has spoken about Granit Xhaka’s inclusion at Arsenal and urged patience. But what is the point of this patience? Is there a point?
Wenger has a new universal saying. For every new Arsenal signing, he encourages us to ‘have patience’ as they acclimate to life in ‘fast-paced England’.
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It sort of made sense for Mohamed Elneny. He had never played in a major European football league. Even now, you could say that he is still acclimating.
It makes sense for Lucas. He’s a striker that has only recently become a striker after years as a winger and the highest plateau he has touched is with lower-table La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.
It even makes sense for Shkodran Mustafi. The German defender is as close to ready as they come, but he does look a bit slow. We have to be patient while he adjusts to the quick pace and universal abilities across the board.
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It absolutely does not make sense for Granit Xhaka. The Swiss midfielder may have looked like a fish out of water against Liverpool, but he was tossed into a match at the worst time and can be excused for such. Seeing him against Watford was pure beauty. His long-passing fit in incredibly well and it’s safe to say that his world class ability was shining through.
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There is no need for patience with Xhaka, especially not when it’s Coquelin who is stepping up in his stead. Wenger stated that Xhaka is still acclimating, and that is why he was left out against Southampton and PSG. It wasn’t because he was being rested. Honestly, rest would have made more sense.
Again, what are we waiting for? You spent all this money on the guy, he has proven to be a crucial piece of this midfield, yet Coquelin is starting over him. It’s eerily reminiscent of Elneny continually being sat for Flamini when he was signed last January. What are we waiting for? Is there going to be an epiphany moment when suddenly Wenger sees that Xhaka is ready?
Follow up, couldn’t that moment have been when Xhaka placed a forty yard pass on Alexis’s big toe? Let’s see Coquelin do that. It will end up in the 34th row it he was to try.
Throw him out there and let him do his thing. He has shown no weaknesses, at least not since the Liverpool match, but he isn’t going to get any better sitting and watching Coquelin Coq up the transition between defense and offense. It robs this attack of a weapon and against PSG it was clearer than ever. Xhaka could have found team mates on the break. Coquelin can’t do that.