Granit Xhaka [THREAD]

Dropping compilations is not my style, but it seems like the need of the hour. A short thread followed as to why Granit Xhaka is far from being as good as some fans make him be.

In this thread, I'm going to show stats on the basis of per game (p.g) and will only include players with 10+ apps itl.

Xhaka stans show you "total" of x stat, ignoring the fact that he has played 300 more minutes than any of our midfielders, which makes the argument flawed.

"Granit Xhaka is the best tackler of the ball at Arsenal"

Most tackles p.g:
1. Maitland Niles (2.3)
2. Ceballos (1.9)
5. Xhaka (1.7)
6. Guendouzi (1.4)
10. Torreira (1.2)

The person who has more tackles per game is prone to committing more fouls, right? Nope.

Most fouls p.g:
1. Xhaka (2.1)
5. M. Niles (0.9)
7. Dani & Torreira (0.8)
12. Matteo (0.7)

So basically, Xhaka is 5th in tackles won per game but is first in most fouls per game. Oh.

Granit Xhaka has committed the second-highest number of fouls in the Premier League this season.

This is his stats by the end of last season.

"Granit Xhaka is the best at reading the game"

If a player is good at reading the passes of opp. players before it is played, it means he must be good at interceptions.

Most interceptions p.g:
1. M. Niles (1.9)
2. Torreira (1.3)
3. Matteo (1.2)
6. Dani (0.9)
8. Xhaka (0.7)

Credit where it's due, Xhaka (1.9 & 0.5) leads our mids for blocks & clearances p.g.

But defensively,
Xhaka has given away more pens than all our midfielders combined. His errors have 3 times led to a shot, which is as much as Dani, Matteo and Torreira combined gave away.

This is for people who say he provides a great scoring threat from outside the box.

Granit Xhaka attempts 0.4 shots p.g, that's lesser than Ozil (0.5), Matteo (0.5), Ceballos (0.7), Luiz (0.8) and Torreira (0.8).

Your ability is of no use if you cannot use it consistently.

Key passes p.g:
1. Ozil (2.1)
3. Dani (1.1)
7. Torreira (0.7)
8. Xhaka (0.6)
9. Matteo (0.5)

Dani (0.3) and Matteo (0.1) are also better than Xhaka when it comes to playing through balls. Not as per me, but as per stats.

Dribbles completed p.g:
1. Pepe (2.4)
4. Dani (1.1
5. Matteo (1)
8. Xhaka (0.9)
11. Torreira (0.7)

Fouls won p.g:
1. Matteo (2)
2. Torreira (1.8)
3. Dani (1.6)
5. Xhaka (1.2)

Here you go..
Has the most passes, recoveries, tackles but at the same time being an absolute liability, defensively and offensively to the team. Longevity =/ Consistency

"Xhaka completes more passes"

True. However, Dani this term (88.9) has a better pass success % than Xhaka (88.1), despite Dani playing more key passes, forward passes and through balls than Xhaka.

In long balls played per game, Xhaka leads the way with 5.2 on par with Luiz. That is his one quality I cannot compare. He is much better than the rest when finding passes across the pitch.

Granit Xhaka as compared to Ceballos, Guendouzi and Torreira.

Note: The stats I have written are from the 2019/20 Premier League season.

I am not trying to prove our other mids are better than Xhaka, but I am trying to prove that Xhaka is just as average. Rating him as "class" is a delusion.

I could make a 10 min Mustafi compilation and make him look world-class, but I ain't here to gain likes and RTs.

He is a leader who loses his head countless times, commits more mistakes than any other player on the pitch and costs the team more often than not.

Did not enjoy writing this, but some people need to face the facts. He has been here for 4 yrs, and is starting to play decent now.

End of Thread.