Quote Originally Posted by IBK View Post
Looking at some of the comments from people on here, it certainly is hate. Xhaka got a single red card in the EPL last season (as did 4 other Arsenal players) - and the fact that he did not get 2 yellows in any game (I think) suggests that he is trying at least to address this aspect of his game. He got a single red card in the 2020/21 season (all comps) and none in the previous 3 seasons (all comps). Plus he is certainly a marked man amongst referees. Equating him to Mustafi who was, frankly, cowardly in many games is IMO an unfair comparison. He has played really well this season with 1 goal and 2 assists in the EPL to date. I have heard many Arsenal fans and pundits acknowledge that he often has really good games. Could we improve on him - yes. Does he have flaws - yes. But his reputation as a complete liablility just isn't bourne out by the facts.
There are some very simple factors in play, this league is full of teams that have adopted a high press strategy and when the key to winning games is controlling the midfield and factor in that Xhaka often gives the ball away when not under pressure by dallying on it too long or playing blind passes when he hasn’t even bothered looking to see if there is a pass on…that makes him a liability. As an aspiring top four side we shouldn’t countenance having him in the team, the problem is that the replacement options seem to be even worse between Lokonga who Arteta seems to have no faith in and Elneny.

I’ve said constantly if Xhaka played in Germany or Italy he’d be a very good player, because he’d have the time to actually play the type of game that best suits his style, in the premier league however you won’t get that time and thus he’s a liability. And I’m really really perturbed that we are even having this conversation when it’s so fucking obvious