Pundit is judging Arsenal new boy off his performances for Arsenal at Euro 2016.
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka
Former Premier League manager Graeme Souness has told SkySports that he is not convinced by Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka is Arsenal’s biggest signing of the summer and really their only big name addition, arriving from Borussia Moenchengladbach for around £30 million.
Former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness
Souness said he watched Xhaka in action for Switzerland at Euro 2016 and was left wanting more, and has given his appraisal of his addition to SkySports.
He said: “In the Euros, I wasn’t impressed by him. He looks like a steady midfield player. I do like his attitude, he talks a good game, but he’s got to back that up.
“I like someone who comes across as bordering on arrogant, but you’ve got to be able to back it up.”
Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka
In fairness to Arsenal, Xhaka possesses the type of midfield grit that Souness has criticised them on numerous occasions for lacking and due to his style of play, he was always going to struggle to stand out in Switzerland’s brief tournament showing, eliminated at the round of 16.
The fast pace of the Premier League should suit the midfielder, and there will be plenty of time to judge him next season in his new surroundings.
Xhaka was not the only player Souness had critical words for, with the Scotsman commenting that Manchester United’s £89m new boy Paul Pogba is a ‘long way from the finished article’.
France’s Paul Pogba shoots over
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