That's why he's the wrong purchase. When we discussed Xhaka during the summer, I said I couldn't see the need for him. We don't thrive off long balls and it would mean altering how we play to accommodate his style. If were capable of dribbling through the lines like Santi and powering through the middle, I could see the point of him. But I didn't during the summer and still can't see the point of him now. He's not that good on defending either. 1/4 tackles vs City and we couldn't win the ball back from deep. I really don't know what Wenger was thinking when he bought him. I suspect a scout recommended him but in no way shape or form should he have been our first signing this summer. There is a much bigger gap to Santi and Xhaka. Chalk and cheese.Thats why I said Xhaka is an ELITE deep lying playmaker being asked to play box to box.
He would get more touches if he was playing where he is elite on the pitch. Its like asking Ozil to be a left back.
Speaking of Coquelin, yes, he's a limited player with his passing. But until Xhaka and Elneny figure out how to win the ball back, we're stuck. That was the problem against City. We couldn't win the ball back in the 2nd half. You saw the first goal and I have no idea what Xhaka was doing. He rushed around like a headless chicken whilst they passed the ball from man to man.
Xhaka should have won the header easily enough from the goal kick. He was under no pressure. But he just runs around in circles whilst they ping pong the ball around him. His attempts to cut out the passes were weak. He just flicks out a leg. Coquelin manages to get a good tackle in and if Xhaka had some more composure and positional sense, he could have recovered that ball. It was a great Flamini impression.
Even the second goal was a result of Xhaka. He mistimed pass goes out of play resulting in a throw in for City. It's not good enough. Basic stuff. So regardless of his best position, he's still a central midfielder and we're talking about a slight shift in positions not a complete shift like the Ozil/leftback example you've given. It shouldn't result in these sort of mistakes.
Doesn't that just sum up the thread? Why even consider converting Ozil into a forward if what he was doing last season was so essential to our success? If he goes, we might as well bring in a proper forward. Heck, I'm not against playing Giroud with Sanchez behind him or having Sanchez play with Welbeck or Walcott ahead of him.Make Ozil a forward and bring in a real 3rd midfielder .
We don't play a 2 man midfield. Ozil is still an attacking AM. With Iwobi drifting in, it should provide an extra body. Ozil should still be able to drift back and steady the midfield when the going gets tough.
I am saying it about Alexis because its what he does. He is a space eater.You're still not giving enough credit to Sanchez. Why wasn't Ozil scoring more goals with Giroud up front?As for Ozil scoring more goals, like I said prior he and Alexis have become something like a false 9 partnership.
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Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice
