- Age: 23
- Position: Central Defensive Midfielder
- Squad#: 29
- Height: 6ft 1in
Season Prediction:
Our new boy on the block who’s selling the most Arsenal jerseys, it’s certainly been a memorable start for the former Borussia Monchengladbach star. Fresh from the Euro’s where he was awarded MOTM in two of the three group stage games, life has changed pretty radically for the midfielder and he now stands as one of the most important assets of our squad. It’s hard to believe he’s only 23, but Xhaka could be a better signing than any in the last 10 years in terms of what he can offer.
Player Objectives:
We’ve needed a reliable CDM for years and now we’ve got one, his ability to change the pace of play is exactly what Giroud needs. Xhaka’s passing has been reminiscent of Cazorla in his early days, long balls that pick out key areas to knock down and get Arsenal playing football in and around the area. He needs to adapt to the rules and regulations of the English game to keep his cool, but if he can keep a lid on his aggression then we’ve got an absolute steal for £32million.
Best Attributes:
As I’ve said above, his long ball distribution is something we’ve been missing for years. Better than that, his arrival now means there’s strength in depth in the defensive midfield hole, leaving him, Elneny and Coquelin to fight over one spot in the first team.
Weak Areas:
We’ve seen it in the early stages, but Xhaka won’t be able to get anything past the referee’s in the Premier League and so he needs to make sure he holds his own. Discipline will be key in that area so he must address the right time to be clinical and put the opposition under pressure.
- Player Rating: 8/10
- Current Value: £35million
- Potential Value: £55million