Arsenal: Granit Xhaka is the very embodiment of Arsenal frustrations

Arsenal nation was yet again frustrated by Granit Xhaka, but isn’t he just all of the gunners frustrations boiled down to one person?

Arsenal brought in a hefty dose of expectations when they purchased Granit Xhaka and made him one of the most expensive signings in club history. Some thought he was the long-lost Patrick Vieira heir, but that quickly disappeared into the realization that aside from the position they played, the two had very few similarities.

That said, Xhaka hasn’t been so atrocious that he should be sold. I abhor this line of thinking. He’s in a similar situation as Olivier Giroud was for the longest time. being misused and unchallenged does not make you a poor player.

Granted, he still makes some poor mistakes that I won’t try to excuse him for, but it’s hard to deny that he hasn’t exactly been given the best opportunity to thrive.

So much so, that I think if you were to boil down all of Arsenal’s pros and cons into a single player, I do believe that the result would be Granit Xhaka. Hear me out.

Some of the things you often hear associated with Arsenal, on the negative side of things, are as follows: so much potential but not so much follow-through, mistake-ridden, misused, random bursts of greatness flanked by mediocrity and the regular collapse (or inconsistency), can switch off at inopportune times.

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On the positive side of things: beautiful flourishes, capable of shocking the world (in small quantities), very specified talent, calm under pressure (sometimes too calm), score some spectacular goals.

All of these things are Granit Xhaka. Not to mention that he is being forced to play a position that isn’t right for him. It makes me think that when Wenger promised the Swiss a “paradise” at Arsenal, that he simply meant that he would be coming to a club that was exactly like him.

Xhaka is capable of so much. If he could iron out the stupid mistakes that plague his game, he would truly be something special. He isn’t the best at defending, but when you let him strut his stuff, he can really be a joy to watch.

Arsenal capable of so much. If they could iron out the stupid mistakes that plague their game, they would truly be something special. They aren’t the best at defending, but when you let them strut their stuff, they can really be a joy to watch.

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So you see, it’s no wonder everyone gets so easily frustrated with Xhaka. It’s because their frustrations at him are the same frustrations that have been geared at the club for a decade.

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