Arsenal Being Ruthlessly Taunted By Granit Xhaka

Arsenal have closed up shop this transfer window and as such, it’s just brutal to be so openly taunted by transfer target Granit Xhaka, who is still not at Arsenal.

When it gets quiet and everyone else is being linked to big name stars and Arsenal is sitting pretty with a brand new Egyptian midfielder from FC Basel, I like to play the tune of “Behind Blue Eyes” in my head. Only the words have changed to “no one knows what it’s like, to be an Arsenal fan.”

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Naturally, I’m being a bit over dramatic. Mohamed Elneny is a fantastic, shrewd and clever signing. He will provide excellent competition or Francis Coquelin while at the same time not directly replacing Le Coq, who does not need to be replaced. He is one of the best at what he does.

All that being said, when it comes to transfer rumors, there is very little for Arsenal supporters to get excited about. While we have seen three world class signings the past three summers, there is still that disbelief that it could ever happen again. Especially in January.

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It is for that reason that what Granit Xhaka did is just plain cruel. Xhaka is one of the hottest contested names on the market right now and it is no wonder why. He has burst onto the footballing scene with Borussia Monchengladbach and the club has already accepted that they will not be able to hang onto him. However, with a price tag of £37m, they may keep him longer than they think.

As such, Xhaka has made his wishes known. He is looking for a top, top, top club where he can start. After all, he does not like the bench.

When questioned about various things involving transfers and moving to new clubs, Xhaka spoke about his number, the No. 34, which he has tattooed on his back. It is, after all, his first number.

Naturally, the questioning had to turn to what would happen if a move to Arsenal were to happen. Xhaka had this to say: “At Arsenal Coquelin has it. I’ve spoken with him, he would like to take another number!” (via the Evening Standard). While he may have been joking, you know what they say – behind every joke there is a bit of truth.

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Xhaka went on to reveal more about his wishes: “I have a childhood dream, that is the Premier League,” he said. “Whether I play two or a hundred games in England, I would like to eventually make this childhood dream come true.”

The transfer is literally there for the taking. However, with the Euros coming up this summer, no moves are going to happen to disrupt the flow of play time. After the Euros, though, interest will be running wild. Xhaka is still so young and he is ticketed to becoming a world class talent.

Arsenal may have two defensive options in Coquelin and Elneny but with the three departing midfielders, adjustments are going to have to be made. The squad cannot thin out that quickly without replacement.

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I nominate Granit Xhaka to fill one of the voids. Hopefully Arsene Wenger agrees.