Your Arsenal XI

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Wenger won’t learn when it comes to getting the right combo for central midfield. It dates back to the years we had Cesc, Nasri and Rosicky in the squad. Instead of playing Cesc and Nari/Rosicky in the central midfield, like we’re seeing today with Ozil and Cazorla, he kept playing a combo of Cesc/Denislon/Diaby or Cesc/Denislon/Song, with Cesc playing the number 10. The two behind would often struggle with creativity and it was far too conservative.

The problems we’re seeing in the squad now, without Cazorla, has always been a problem for us. Also, we must not forget that we stumbled upon Cazorla being able to play there after an injury crisis. I would have thought he’d have had some sense to buy a younger version of Cazorla. Someone with similar qualities but he’s paid £35m for Xhaka. It’s early days but I’m not holding my breath. Unimpressed by his footwork, how he defends, his movement, he lacks the sort of engine we’ve seen from Elmo and Rambo…..reminds me of an Arteta downgrade.

I don't think he is a downgrade on Arteta but i would agree with you that in buying Xhaka that's exactly what Wenger was trying to replicate.

I think like any player he needs time in order to establish himself in the side, but i think before Arteta's legs went he gave us something in terms of ball distribution that Xhaka now gives us.

Was he worth the money we paid for him?....No of course not, but Mustafi wasn't worth 35million either....it's just what we had to pay.