Granit Xhaka and Arsenal – A healthy but necessary break up
By Tom Childs
The Granit Xhaka that became famous at Arsenal
After impressing early on, the recklessness that Xhaka would soon become famous for began to show.
Two red cards, 5 yellow cards, and countless positional and possession errors in his first full season earned Xhaka an unwanted label as “an accident waiting to happen.”
It wasn’t all bad, as the positive side of his game also shined through. After a net-busting goal away to Hull City, the token “shoot” call would ring around the Emirates Stadium every time Xhaka possessed the ball in or around the penalty area.
Analytically minded supporters would also be keen to point out his eye for a forward pass between the lines.
The good version of Granit Xhaka is very good. It’s a shame the bad side popped up as often as it did.
But as seasons passed, the errors mounted – and so the Emirates faithful began to show their frustration with the Swiss captain.