Arsenal Better Off With Granit Xhaka Than N’Golo Kante

Arsenal have made a marquee signing this summer actually, and his name is Granit Xhaka. And while we’re at it, he’s the best move in England thus far.

I will take any opportunity possible to sign Arsenal‘s major signing, Granit Xhaka. If you’ve been following Pain in the Arsenal’s recent blurbs about him lately, they are always comparisons between the Swiss Army Knife and whoever our competitors sign.

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I overwhelmingly proved that Gundogan was not a sconce as good as Granit Xhaka and Andy and myself teamed up to absolutely destroy any delirious Spurs fans that thought Wanyama was better, simply because of the cost.

Now, I will endeavor to accomplish the toughest feat of them all, proving that Granit Xhaka is better than N’Golo Kante.

For the record, I find Kante a thrilling player and one that will benefit any other team. But similarly on record, I go way back saying that Granit Xhaka would be the best for what Arsenal need and for Wenger’s vision and I still believe that there is no other midfielder who would have been a better signing.

I will start with the same reasoning I used for Victor Wanyama. He’s a one trick pony. Wanyama is a big mean bruiser that stops people. That’s what he does. Ask him to do something else and he will probably be a big mean bruiser and find someone to stop.

N’Golo Kante may not be a big mean bruiser that stops people, but he isn’t far off. He’s a bit smaller, but has some similarly stout defensive abilities. However, ask him to do something else, and he will at least notching an assist or two.

Granit Xhaka is better than that. He is younger, he has the potential to be prolific and he can do it all. Arsene Wenger has moved away from having a defensive midfielder. I think we had best just accept that. When Francis Coquelin was unable to develop any offensive abilities, he was pushed away.

Wenger’s vision brought about the Invincibles. If his vision does not allow for a defensive midfielder that holds up the offense, I’m not going to doubt him.

Plus, we all say that Xhaka isn’t a defensive midfielder, which is true, but let’s not ignore the fact that he does play defense. He is not like Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey bombards forward and recovers later. He doesn’t think ahead about being caught out of position. Granit Xhaka understands his responsibilities and stays behind the play.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. He is Ramsey, Elneny and Coquelin all rolled into one. While Kante and Wanyama showcase their defensive talents every match – that’s because it’s all they do. They are defensive midfielders.

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Granit Xhaka isn’t highlighted as a defensive midfielder because he does other things. His passing ability is second to none and Arsenal is going to be incredibly lucky to have balls flying in from Xhaka and Ozil. The angles to this attack would be insane.

Kante and Wanyama would not have provided that. They would have enforced, but as we have seen in previous years, we don’t just need enforcing, we need a bit of offensive push. Elneny didn’t quite provide it as he was more of a controlling force and Coquelin has no offensive ability in him. It left Wenger’s hands tied where he needed Ramsey to push up the attack from the back but had to suffer the consequences of his rambunctious runs.

Granit Xhaka solves all of that for Arsenal, whereas Kante and Wanyama would not have.

Next: 5 Reasons Xhaka Is Signing Of Decade

The Swiss midfielder may not be overwhelmingly defensive in his play, but that’s simply because he is more. Therefore Arsenal has more.