Arsenal Vs Manchester United: 5 things we learned – Hope in despair

2. Granit Xhaka still hasn’t learnt

Unfortunately, Arsenal did lose this game. That means that the performance wasn’t all positive, though I do like to look at the youth experiment through sunny eyes. The Gunners did concede two goals, and predictably did so because of some misjudgements in their defending, namely from Granit Xhaka.

For the second goal, Xhaka is simply outjumped by Marouane Fellaini. It is hard to blame him for that. But his role in the first was criminal. He initially does well, tracking inside to block off the driving run of Paul Pogba. But then he throws himself to the ground, exposing his defence behind him. Pogba slips by him, plays a pass wide, before making his way into the penalty area. Xhaka then proceeds to get up, wander back to the edge of the area, and merely meander around, only turning to adjust his shin pad after Pogba volleyed home the rebound.

And this is the same recurring issue. He simply doesn’t know how to defend. I’m not sure that it is even a question of ability. His recent form of late has been excellent and has included examples of some very able and astute defending. He can do it. But then sometimes, he forgets how. He forgets, in essence, the ‘protocol’ of the situation. It’s now been two years since he was signed. I am still waiting for him to learn these simple defensive lessons. I fear that I could be waiting a long time.