Arsenal’s Matt Turner reacts to Granit Xhaka scoring with his right foot vs PSV

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner, like many of us, was surprised to see Granit Xhaka score a goal with his right foot against PSV Eindhoven last night.

The Gunners picked up their fourth consecutive win in the competition against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men yesterday. Xhaka scored the winner, but it wasn’t one of his usual 30-year screamers with his left foot.

Matt Turner says he had never seen Granit Xhaka score a goal with his right foot before last night

Nobody really expected Xhaka to have the kind of season he’s having.

The Swiss international has been deployed in a more advanced box-to-box midfield role, and he is thriving in that position. He has scored three goals and provided three assists already this campaign, and he’s on course to have his best season as an Arsenal player.

Xhaka’s new position allows him to get in the box more often than before. Takehiro Tomiyasu found him there with a clever pass last night, and the £100,000-a-week (Spotrac) midfielder smashed the ball in with his right foot.

Turner, like everyone else at the Emirates, was surprised. He told Viaplay Fotball: “I’ve never seen that before, not even in training! You can tell him I said that.”

When told by the interviewer that the last time Xhaka scored with his right foot was in 2015, he replied: “Oh my goodness! That thing (right foot) is just for standing usually.”

TBR View:

Xhaka deserves immense praise for being in the position that he’s currently in.

The Swiss international’s career seemed finished after his outburst against Arsenal fans three years ago. He recovered from that brilliantly, and the supporters sing his name in the stadium every week now.

Xhaka’s new role is one of the biggest reasons why Arsenal have been so good this season. His presence in the final third is causing opposition defenders all sorts of problems, and the Gunners have become a really dangerous side now thanks to him.

Arsenal take on Southampton next and Xhaka is expected to start. We won’t be surprised if he pops up in the box and scores again.