5 Arsenal players still waiting for their first goal

5. Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka has scored for Arsenal previously so he is somewhat exempt from this list, but as someone who is in the team every week and has 13 goals to his name during his time at the club, given he is yet to get off the mark this season he gets included.

In each of the previous two seasons Xhaka has notched his token goal. In 2019/20 he scored against Norwich at home, while in 2020/21 it was that memorable free-kick against Chelsea on Boxing Day.

So far, no luck.

It’s quite interesting, too, that the closer he is to goal the fewer shots he’s taking. Discounting the last two campaigns (because they were rubbish) Xhaka is averaging 0.93 shots p/90 in the league compared to over 1.00 in each of his three first seasons. In 2017/18 he was up at 1.83 p/90.

He is older now, of course, and the long range pile drivers may now be a thing of the past. It would seem so anyway, since his remit is now about retaining possession high up the pitch, pressing from the front and being an option off the ball more so than an option on it.

But he’s due a lucky bounce here or there. As an advanced No. 8 it would be peculiar for him not to have at least one or two presentable opportunities across the final ten games, even if he is far from the traditional mould of No. 8 who is going to be doing one touch moves and bursting into the box.

His token goal will surely come.