Arsenal: Granit Xhaka is still Granit Xhaka, despite West Ham

Granit Xhaka performed well in Arsenal’s win over West Ham. However, this does not mean that the fans should expect more from him in the Premier League.

There is no doubt that Granit Xhaka performed well in Arsenal‘s win over West Ham this weekend. He displayed a new dimension to his attacking game with his crisp passing when Lucas Torreira came on for Matteo Guendouzi in the second half. This has led to some pundits raving about the Swiss midfielder.

Unfortunately, Xhaka’s history should make us praise him with caution. This is a player who has had two horrible seasons for the Gunners. At the end of the 2016/2017 season, he was called the worst signing of the season by Tony Cascarino.

Furthermore, his brilliant performance against West Ham is conditional; he was lost without Torreira in the first half. Yes, without the Spanish midfielder, Xhaka was limited. Colton Praill explained this conditionality (of Xhaka’s performance) best. Here’s what he had to say:

"Like the perfect soufflé, it required the perfect conditions to rise, and even the slightest off can deflate it in an instant.More from Pain in the Arsenal3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victoryArsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison ParkMikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton winTo draw the comparison to Arsenal, Saturday’s win over West Ham showed once again the value Granit Xhaka brings to the pitch, but it also clearly demonstrated the conditions he needs to work in to be effective……One potential solution is to start the trio of Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira."

In short, Xhaka’s performance is dependent on another central defender to cover up for him defensively. Also, Unai Emery must organize the club’s style of play to fit Xhaka, if he (Emery) wants the best out of the Swiss midfielder.

To make matters worse, if even all the conditions are right for Xhaka to go on the attack, there is still the issue of him lacking a certain defensive awareness. Granit Xhaka has been consistently criticized for poor marking and giving the ball away to the opposition.

In modern football, central midfielders are expected to have a defensive edge to their gameplay even if they are given an attacking role in the formation. Players like Paul Pogba, Fernandinho and N’Golo Kante come to mind in such roles.

In summary, Xhaka should not be a long-term solution for Arsenal’s central midfield. There are too many negatives to take away from his positive contributions to the team.