Gary Neville praised Granit Xhaka for his ‘absolutely wonderful’ cross and assist during Arsenal’s Premier League showdown against Manchester United on Sunday, as he told Sky Sports (22/01/23).
After going 1-0 down to a quite stunning Marcus Rashford goal, the home team hit back with devastating effect.
The ball was fed to Xhaka out on the left channel and he put in a brilliant first-time ball into the back post for Nketiah to head home the equaliser.
Just like the good old days of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, this was a game of the past for these two English giants.
With the Gunners sitting at the top of the Premier League table, they wanted to further extend their lead at the top, whilst Erik ten Hag’s men wanted to spoil their party once more.
Nonetheless, one passage of play caught Neville’s eye and this is what he had to say, including being critical of Man United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
“What a goal,” said Neville. “It comes from that David de Gea and Wan-Bissaka madness from the back.
“The reason those Arsenal fans are jumping for joy is a brilliant bit of football – eventually it comes down this side and the ball from Xhaka is absolutely wonderful.
“Nketiah is on the move. Wan-Bissaka is not. The pace is on the ball. It’s a wonderful, wonderful header and goal by Arsenal. The cross is delicious. Wan-Bissaka is sleeping. Nketiah is alive and so is this game.”
XHAKA A CHANGED MAN
The transformation of the 30-year-old this season, or even going back to the last campaign, has been pretty remarkable.
Everyone thought after that Crystal Palace incident, he was down and out. But that’s when the real test of an individual comes to the forefront.
Mikel Arteta deserves huge praise because he urged Xhaka not to leave when he replaced Unai Emery at the club, and fast forward to the present, and it has proved to be a masterstroke of a call.
The £30 million signing (Sky Sports) is one of the most important players for this title-charging team that has Manchester City breathing down their necks.
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