Ian Wright issues verdict on Granit Xhaka display in Arsenal win

By Jordan Harris

Ian Wright has told Wrighty’s House that Granit Xhaka recaptured his stunning Euro 2020 form as Arsenal beat Chelsea on Wednesday.

The Gunners picked up a massive three points in their quest to finish fourth in the Premier League. Supporters may have had pretty low expectations with Mikel Arteta’s men losing their previous three games.

But Arsenal were phenomenal at Stamford Bridge. They put four past the Blues, with Eddie Nketiah scoring twice, while Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka also got on the scoresheet for the Gunners.

But a number of players produced improved displays. And one of the most impressive showings came from Xhaka, who started in the middle of the park alongside Mohamed Elneny.

Some may have feared how the pair would fare against Chelsea. But they ultimately had no reason to worry about the two men.

Certainly, Wright felt that Arsenal saw the very best of Xhaka, and suggested that he stepped up exactly how a captain should when Mikel Arteta’s side needed him most.

“Come on, Granit Xhaka. That was Euro’s Granit Xhaka we saw there. Man was energised,” he told Wrighty’s House.

“He was very, very, very good yesterday. If Xhaka is putting those performances in on a regular basis, we are doing a lot better than we’re doing because that was inspirational captain leading from the front kind of stuff, that was.”

Granit Xhaka has been a lot better for Arsenal than many would give him credit for

Xhaka has not been flawless this season. But it is fair to say that a lot of neutrals have not given him anything like the credit he has deserved over the course of the campaign.

As Wright suggests, he was outstanding at Euro 2020 with Switzerland. And his involvement in the midfield trio with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard seemed to give him a new lease of life.

It is imperative that Arsenal do not get too carried away when there is still so much to do. Chelsea were incredibly poor, too.

But that win could be another massive turning point in the season.