‘Burst into tears’: Ian Wright says £35m Arsenal star’s passing almost made him cry

Follow us on Google Discover

Ian Wright has said on the Kelly and Wrighty Show that Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka’s passing stats almost made him cry the other day.

Arsenal have struggled with a lack of creativity this term, with many of their attacking players struggling to hit form.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, in particular, has been criticised, after hitting the back of the net just twice this season.

But Wright thinks that the Arsenal striker has been badly let down by his teammates.

And he says that £35 million man Xhaka’s (BBC Sport) passing is simply far too negative.

“Sometimes it might look like it’s a tight fit to put a pass in there, but you have to put it in there,” Wright said.

“The more you’re afraid to say you’ll put it in there, you’re starving Aubameyang because he needs that.

“If you have midfielders who are not willing to put the ball in there, and they want to get these stats where they’re passing it sideways and they have 99 per cent pass accuracy, passing it five yards to the side or back, you’re not going to create anything.

“I think one of the stats the other day was the most interaction between two Arsenal players was Xhaka back to Gabriel. It nearly made me burst into tears.”

Whether Xhaka will start in Arsenal’s next game against Tottenham Hotspur is very much up for debate.

With Thomas Partey potentially back fit, Xhaka’s place in Arsenal’s team could actually be under threat.

If Partey does start then Mikel Arteta could opt to play the likes of Joe Willock or Ainsley Maitland-Niles in midfield, which would surely offer Arsenal slightly more thrust than if Xhaka is selected.