Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned – Well, that was wild

1. Granit Xhaka, it’s time

I have said many times that Arsenal should replace Granit Xhaka through the transfer window — I understood why they did not replace him in the summer just passed, given the vast overhaul at other positions. But now I would go a step further: He just needs to be dropped.

Xhaka committed seven fouls. The fact that one of these was his best moment in the match, pulling back Harry Kane to prevent a counter-attack, finally receiving a yellow card in the process, tells you, painfully, everything you need to know.

He was incessantly outmanoeuvred, lacking the speed and agility to cover space and win second balls, he passed poorly when pressed in the first half, though this substantially improved after the break, and he has seemingly regressed in his defensive awareness, not able to temper his eagerness to win the ball back. Oh, and all of this is without mentioning a scissor slide tackle — yes, you read that right — that handed Spurs a stonewall penalty.

With Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock all impressing this season, there is no reason why a liability like Xhaka should be playing. Sadly, I don’t think anything will change when Arsenal return after the international break.