Arsenal ace Granit Xhaka was likened to Emmanuel Petit by Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery has finally got him playing like French legend
What a pity for Wenger that it has taken the arrival of Unai Emery to bring the best out of a player who was in danger of losing his way at the Emirates
WHEN Arsene Wenger likened Granit Xhaka to Emmanuel Petit a couple of years ago, most Arsenal fans thought their boss had lost the plot.
But now the Swiss international is finally starting to look the part in the midfield holding role which Petit once had down to an art.
What a pity for Wenger that it has taken the arrival of Unai Emery to bring the best out of a player who was in danger of losing his way at the Emirates.
Xhaka, like Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding, has improved beyond all recognition in recent weeks and is clearly feeling the benefit of Emery’s guidance.
The new Arsenal boss has overseen a noticeable development in players who appeared to be going backwards during the last knockings of the Wenger era.
Six days earlier, Xhaka was sucked into a clumsy tackle on Wilfried Zaha that cost his side a spot-kick in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.
But Xhaka’s impeccable penalty-box challenge on Mo Salah set the tone for a defiant Arsenal display which suggests they are no longer going to be a soft touch.
Emery celebrated that tackle as if his team had scored and the Emirates reverberated to the kind of noise not heard at the stadium for many years.
The Spaniard said: “The best moment in football is when you score — but I also enjoy the individual defensive actions.
“I think we produced the balance in intensity that you need against Liverpool. The connection with the supporters is very important.
“It created a big atmosphere. The supporters gave the players an important push and the energy to be together.
“I look at the team and little by little we are improving. We are pushing the players a lot and they gave their all with this performance and their desire.
“I am very happy with Xhaka because he is a very good player. He has a great commitment but he wants to improve and I think he can do that in every match.
“It is important for our balance that we have two midfielders like Xhaka and Lucas Torreira. They are tactically critical and their running and hard work helps us defensively and offensively.”
Xhaka, 26, relished his return to midfield duties after being asked to fill in at emergency left-back in recent games.
He said: “I think everyone at the club knows which is the best position for me.
“Last season was not the best for Arsenal but now we are 14 games unbeaten and if you look at this game you can see that we are ready to get back into the top four.
“A lot of small things have changed in the last few weeks. The coach has prepared us very well and we know what are doing in each game.
“We know the opposition well — where they are good and where they are not. And even when we were 1-0 down we knew we would not lose this game.
“It’s not the first time we have come back from behind and that shows we have great character.
“I think I am playing some of my best football now and the coach has helped us all with small tactical things. He’s always on the pitch with us in training, moving us to the right positions.
“You can see that we are improving more and more each game and in my opinion we were the better team today and a bit unlucky not to win.”
Arsenal earned a point with eight minutes left when Lacazette kept his cool in the box to find a gap and fire in the leveller.
Liverpool had taken the lead when James Milner pounced on Bernd Leno’s poor clearance in the 61st minute.
Ultimately a draw meant both sides lost ground on Manchester City, who eased past Southampton yesterday.
Klopp, though, is not interested in what City are up to. He said: “I ignore what they do. I’m not interested how many points City get.
"They have taken one off us and if they get 89 more I can have no influence on it.”
The Kop boss is more concerned about tomorrow’s Champions League clash at Red Star Belgrade, which will be crucial to getting out of Group C.
Klopp said: “Belgrade will not be a children’s party. It will be very tough and we have to be ready — but that’s our life and it’s not a problem.”