'World-class': National media are raving about Arsenal player after his performance at the World Cup yesterday

By Lee Clarke

Arsenal star Granit Xhaka played and captained Switzerland as they lost 1-0 to Brazil at the World Cup. It leaves the team’s qualification hopes still hanging in the balance with one game left to play in Group G.

Xhaka has now started both of his country’s games at the World Cup. With Serbia to play last, Switzerland remain on course to reach the knockout stages.

This was always going to be a big ask for Xhaka and Co. Brazil are heavily fancied to win the competition this year and in fairness, Switzerland gave them a stern test here.

A late goal from Manchester United star Casemiro proved decisive though. He struck a late strike that Yann Sommer had no chance with to break the Swiss resolve.

Xhaka is enjoying a fine season with Arsenal. The Gunners sit top of the Premier League table and have a five-point cushion on Manchester City in second place.

The jury is perhaps still out over whether or not they can win the league. But, given how they performed in the first half of the campaign you wouldn’t bet against them.

One of the driving forces behind the success has been Xhaka. The £100,000-a-week star has silenced his critics with a string of solid performances.

National media praise Xhaka for World Cup showing

In Switzerland, the player ratings can often be quite brutal. For example two of Xhaka’s teammates were slammed as ‘jokers’ for their efforts during yesterday’s World Cup defeat.

Marked out of six, Xhaka earned praise though. 20Min awarded him a five rating and they seemed pretty content with how he’d performed.

They claimed: “With his organisation, he ensured more stability in midfield, strong in tackles, convinced with good passing accuracy and one or two long balls with the rating world-class.”

This performance will have delighted the Arsenal faithful. They will want all of their players to return in good health and Xhaka is certainly an important member of the squad.

It’s great to see the player defying his critics and he will hope to finish the World Cup with a flourish before continuing an assault on the Premier League.