Danny Murphy has urged Mikel Arteta to get rid of liability, Granit Xhaka if he wants to be able to complete.
The Swiss midfielder saw red in the defeat to Burnley after he got involved in a heated confrontation with Ashley Westwood.
Appearing on talkSPORT, the former Liverpool man claimed that whilst the Switzerland international is a problem, he’s not the only one among the squad.
Murphy said: “I’ve defended Arteta in the past but he’s making the same mistakes. I said last season that although Xhaka has turned his form around, you won’t compete and get Arsenal back up the table with him in midfield. I’m not just digging Xhaka out though.”
“Lacazette isn’t a 10, Aubameyang scores most of his goals playing off the left and he’s playing him through the middle. Willian, who I love, is having a bad spell and he needs a breather.” (via talkSPORT)
Should Martinelli immediately return to the first XI when back from injury?
Yes
No
He’s let us down in the past, and he’ll continue to do so if he plays for Arsenal in the future. Xhaka has made the same mistakes in the past four-and-a-half years since his arrival in 2016. His red card against Burnley was the same show of immaturity as the one he received against the Clarets back in 2017, where the Gunners escaped luckily, no thanks to his stupidity.
Apart from his poor mindset on the pitch, what does the central midfielder bring to the Gunners? It’s a question worth asking given how poor the Gunners have looked in the middle of the pitch this season. He doesn’t assist a great chunk of goals and proves hesitant on the ball whenever asked to play it quickly.
In the footballing world of high presses and high energy football, Xhaka simply doesn’t fit into Arteta’s plan. A new number eight, who works at pace and can deal with high pressure is needed in order to get the Gunners playing smoother football.
In other news, Arsenal are still in the race to sign this European youngster.
