Arsenal’s future captain Granit Xhaka rocked it out against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup. Could he make any better claim to start?
He did it again. Granted, it took a bit of a deflection, but our man Granit Xhaka did it again, cutting loose from even deeper against Nottingham Forest and planting it in the back of the net to give Arsenal the 1-0 lead.
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The Swiss midfielder scored an absolute stunner against Hull City that was pure, not deflected and blazing. After Hull City, I was fairly confident in saying that it was becoming more and more impossible (is that even a plausible concept?) to not start the man.
Now that we have seen yet another goal from him, we have to wonder how much Wenger is struggling with his decision making. It is a difficulty, having to choose between Cazorla, Coquelin and Xhaka, but it’s a difficulty you have to welcome. This depth is what internal competitions is about.
I don’t see how Xhaka can continue to sit. There are usually only two things that can upset Wenger’s winning formula. One thing is a complete disaster. We don’t wish for that. The other thing is an injury. We don’t wish for that either. Without one of those two things, Xhaka looks stranded.
But it’s about time that Wenger introduces a third aspect to alter a winning formula – pure individual brilliance.
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I understand Wenger’s logic with starting Coqzorla. I really do. They have a great partnership and there is no doubting that. Yet I can’t help but feel that every minute we spend without Xhaka is a wasted minute. This guy is overflowing with potency and he is only being utilized late in games or against lesser oppositions.
That has to change. Xhaka bossed Nottingham Forest (when he was able to stay on his feet). His long balls were on display, his control and vision was front and center and, as mentioned, he is mustering that confidence to fire from deep effectively.
That will not only produce goals for him, it will create more space in front of him as defenders will have to start closing down, leaving Xhaka with more team mates to pick out with more space for them. It’s a continuously improving situation.
Neither Cazorla nor Coquelin provide that. Ramsey does however, and that’s why I am still salivating 24/7 over the idea of both Xhaka and Ramsey in the base of the midfield, making it rain from everywhere.
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It’s time to get Xhaka in there. It’s so beyond clear that he deserves it and it’s a bit silly to keep waiting for the winning formula to be broken. They say if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. But I’ve never heard ‘it it’s great, don’t make it better’.
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