On day where few things were certain throughout the Premier League, one thing we could count on was the unpredictability of Granit Xhaka ‘s performance.
Perhaps that’s the wrong way to describe. After all after five years in North London we know exactly what to expect from the Swiss international when he pulls on Arsenal shirt.
The thing is that the extremities of his performances vary so dramatically from the sublime to the ridiculous that it’s impossible to know really which one we are going to get.
At Elland Road we saw both sides of Xhaka.
In the first half he was sensational in midfield, providing a sharp assist for Gabriel Martinelli ‘s second with a precise through ball, completing more passes (28 out of 31) than any player on the pitch and winning more tackles than anyone else in the game (3).
However, having seen the good in opening 45 minutes, as he stepped out on to the pitch for the second we almost immediately saw the bad.
Having tested Andre Mariner’s patience by standing in front of Mateusz Klich as he prepared to take a free kick and escaping without a yellow, the Swiss international put in an appalling tackle on Raphinha seconds later.
The severity of the challenge was not the worst part, but rather how unnecessary it all was. Arsenal were 3-0 up with the play in the Leeds half. There was absolutely no reason to make that tackle but Xhaka did it anyway.
At this point calling for Mikel Arteta to drop the 28-year-old is a Sisyphean task. By offering him a contract extension the Spaniard has nailed his colours to the mask, and Xhaka is going to be a mainstay of the Gunners’ midfield for the rest of the season provided he is not injured or more likely suspended.
This is not to say that the Swiss midfielder does not offer plenty in the middle of the park. His skills are often overlooked by those trying to accentuate his flaws.
But on a day where there was no reason to allow a depleted Leeds side back into the game the Arsenal vice captain very nearly did exactly that.
by Kaya Kaynak of football.london
