Arsenal: Wanyama Not The Signing Granit Xhaka Is

Arsenal have Granit Xhaka and Tottenham Hotspur have countered with Victor Wanyama. But it’s not even close, Arsenal have the superior midfielder.

Arsenal‘s rivals crack me up. First it was Ilkay Gundogan going to Manchester City and all of the Citizens clamoring that they really stuck it to Arsenal by getting the better man cheaper. Wrong. Well, cheaper yes, but the better man? No.

Now, I anticipate the same with Spurs supporters and I hope this article finds them in the midst of their Wanyama splooge-fest.

I have no doubts that Wanyama is a good signing. Arsenal wanted him at one point too. He is a mean, mean man that has one massive upside – he can defend. He’s a fantastic defensive midfielder. But he doesn’t do anything else. He doesn’t create chances, he doesn’t stretch the opposing defense, he has no creativity. That’s not an indictment of the guy, it’s a fact. He just doesn’t do all the things that Granit Xhaka does.

Xhaka is not an enforcer, but he has defensive upside. And, to be fair to his defensive abilities, when you combine tackles and interceptions, Wanyama only has a slide edge in 5.4 per appearance as opposed to Xhaka’s 4.9. So don’t give me the “he’s a defensive masterclass compared to Xhaka.” Not so much. Not until we see what they can do at their new homes.

In terms of passing, Wanyama can’t even hold a candle to Xhaka because the Swiss midfielder would laugh so hard it would blow it right out.

Xhaka completed three times the long balls as Wanyama. There is a reason why he is compared to Pirlo and Ozil, only formationally deeper and physically stronger. His ability to pick out a long ball is, at times, immaculate. Xhaka creates chances. He hasn’t had as many at a lower-tier Monchengladbach side, but come to Arsenal and those chances will multiply with attackers like Alexis, Ramsey and Giroud to bounce off of.

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In terms of control, the two are dead equals. Neither one loses possession. They both show tremendous calm and composure to maintain the ball. Wanyama’s control is more a result of his brute strength and size though, whereas Xhaka’s is all about intelligence with a hint of size and strength.

Then there is the ability to score, which, surprise, goes to Xhaka again. He is far more keen to take a shot and while they share a fierce ball from distance, Xhaka is the bigger threat at goal.

Like I said, prices aside, Arsenal win with Granit Xhaka. Even in Wanyama’s biggest upside, his defense, he still only sits a tick higher than Xhaka and the Swiss midfielder figures to be much more of a presence in a more controlled environment like Arsenal can provide.

Next: 5 Terrible Nicknames For Granit Xhaka

I imagine that many Spurs and City fans are all over social media laughing at Xhaka for missing a penalty, but that is an irrelevant moment. Xhaka is coming to Arsenal to do exactly what Wanyama is going to Spurs to do – control. The difference is that Wanyama is like Coquelin. Give him the ball and he gives it to someone else to handle the rest of the responsibilities. Give the ball to Xhaka and he creates. He innovates. He knows what to do.

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