Arsenal fans are praising midfielder Granit Xhaka after his strong first half showing against Southampton today.
The Switzerland international has often divided opinion after an up-and-down career at the Emirates Stadium, but he’s shone today after being brought back in to the team by manager Mikel Arteta.
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The Gunners are 1-0 up and have improved after poor performances in back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton last week.
At his best, Xhaka is a tidy passer with a good work rate, and today he’s doing his bit to make this team tick in a way that Matteo Guendouzi, the man he replaced in the starting XI today, has struggled to.
Gooners will hope he can continue to bounce back after a difficult patch earlier in this season when his future at the club looked in real doubt after storming off the pitch when he was subbed by former manager Unai Emery against Crystal Palace.
Today it’s all good for Xhaka, though, and here’s some of the half time reaction…
We’re so much better with Xhaka in the team playing this role. It’s night and day.
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) June 25, 2020
Xhaka making things tick in the middle. That’s my captain.
— Pádraig (@afcpadraig) June 25, 2020
Xhaka makes Arsenal tick
— ?????? ? (@JHobbsyy) June 25, 2020
It’s clear xhaka offers so much stability to this team. I’m not seeing we desperately need him as such but it shows we need a midfielder like partey who is twice the player. Xhaka could do well next to him, partey is an absolute must
— AFC&B (@AFCandboxing) June 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/_sakalinho/status/1276214483103346693
Xhaka, our best midfielder by a mile! What a player.???
— Simon Tierney (@SimonTierney63) June 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/AFCMorg/status/1276214433350631427
https://twitter.com/AbdulkadirAbdi_/status/1276214359056887809
Xhaka is our best central midfielder.
— Trilly Trent (@GeckzExcites) June 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/lemikravitz/status/1276213921783767041
Fair to say we are a different team when Granit Xhaka is on the pitch
— Tinda (@Tinda_one) June 25, 2020