The Swiss midfielder continues to impress for Arsenal.
Glenn Hoddle has predicted on BT Sport that Granit Xhaka will be a “fantastic” player for Arsenal – providing manager Arsene Wenger allows him to be.
The Swiss midfielder, a £35 million signing from Borussia Monchengladbach, has made an impression on Arsenal fans so far, even though he has struggled for regular places in the Gunners’ best XI for the most part.
He already has two excellent goals under his belt in recent wins away to Hull City and Nottingham Forest, and he impressed in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Chelsea.
The 23-year-old replaced the injured Francis Coquelin after half-an-hour and gave a wonderful account of himself, displaying his physicality and leadership but also a fine eye for a pass.
Indeed, he has won plenty of admirers during his time in North London, and Hoddle admits to being one of them; as long as he gets more chances under Wenger.
“This lad, if he [Wenger] plays him, I think is going to be fantastic,” Hoddle said on BT Sport.
The extent of Coquelin’s injury is yet to be determined, but Xhaka might well find himself given more opportunities now if his French counterpart is out for a while.
Last season an injury to Coquelin meant that Mikel Arteta or Mathieu Flamini had to fill in, so Arsenal fans will be delighted that they finally have a decent back-up for that position in the form of Xhaka.
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka warms up before the game
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