Granit Xhaka (official)

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

An established player is someone who has been there and performed at the higest level IMO, Xhaka hadn't, he;d had a few seasons for one of the teams in the Bundesligua that make up the numbers, hardly great.

Is it deliberate, not in the sense that's he looks at his teams and wants the to be weak, but his choices of players seem to be based around passing, that's what he looks for as that's his preferred style of play, if they can pass they can fit in, other attributes like shooting, tackling, leadership etc aren't important to him.

This inevitably ends up with us signing weaker players, as generally passers are not your physical types, he's basically obsessed with this passing game because he thinks it constitutes great football, 10+ years of evidence suggest it doesn't.

How many top sides have players that are purely physical players that have no technical ability. Kante is excellent at tackling and pass interceptions but he can also distribute the ball well.

[Özim]

How many top sides have players that are purely physical players that have no technical ability. Kante is excellent at tackling and pass interceptions but he can also distribute the ball well.

What am saying is that most players have a particualr strength, yes there are some who are all rounders but it's they're the exception rather than the rule.

Wenger is interested in players that pass, he is happy to overlook other skills that might be beneficial to us if that player has that attribute.

[Power n Glory]

What am saying is that most players have a particualr strength, yes there are some who are all rounders but it's they're the exception rather than the rule.

Wenger is interested in players that pass, he is happy to overlook other skills that might be beneficial to us if that player has that attribute.

It's the same old problem we had back in the early days where we had the same sort of player. Passers and not enough finishers. He always looks for a player that can pass. It blinds him. What attracted him to signing Chamakh is what attracted him to signing Giroud. Without a doubt, if either player were incapable of playing short link up passes and flicks around the edge of the box, he'd never have signed them.

Xhaka has been a waste of money and it's odd that he's only just know discovered that he can't tackle. What the heck were they watching when scouting him? My hunch is this purchase has been made off the back of that stat crunching machine we've invested money in. They were probably blown away by the passing percentages produced each week and snapped him up. Idiots.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

The only thing i'd say if that if he wanted every player in his side to be a passer he wouldn't persist so much with Coquelin


Or Ramsey for that matter

[Power n Glory]

The only thing i'd say if that if he wanted every player in his side to be a passer he wouldn't persist so much with Coquelin


Or Ramsey for that matter

Most players. Not all. You can add Theo to that equation. Ox also. Coquelin had to struggle to get into the first team because he wanted to play more as a CM and not DM. Wenger didn't trust him to play there and would often play him as a wingback also. His story is similar to Alex Song's. Both were being pushed to played in defence and had to force their way past less physical players to get their first team start. Coquelin's not a great playmaker but it's not as if he's reckless and gives the ball away.

Also, what Ramsey, Theo and Ox all want to play through the middle but can't pass that well. To make up for it, Wenger will often play them in a wide position.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Most players. Not all. You can add Theo to that equation. Ox also. Coquelin had to struggle to get into the first team because he wanted to play more as a CM and not DM. Wenger didn't trust him to play there and would often play him as a wingback also. His story is similar to Alex Song's. Both were being pushed to played in defence and had to force their way past less physical players to get their first team start. Coquelin's not a great playmaker but it's not as if he's reckless and gives the ball away.

Also, what Ramsey, Theo and Ox all want to play through the middle but can't pass that well. To make up for it, Wenger will often play them in a wide position.

Oh i've no doubt he has modelled Arsenal on the Barcelona model, but i think above all of that there are just players he likes to play who he won't drop unless their form is consistently bad for such a long period that it's already too late by the time he has changed things.