Tony Cascarino thinks Arsenal need summer upgrade on Granit Xhaka

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Tony Cascarino has told The Times that Granit Xhaka’s blunder against Burnley highlights that he’s not up to the required level.

The Switzerland captain was at fault for Chris Wood’s equaliser at Turf Moor and held his hands up afterwards.

Xhaka has enjoyed a prolonged run in the team under Mikel Arteta, enjoying some good form in the process.

After a public spat with supporters in November 2019, it seemed as though his time at the Emirates Stadium could be coming to an end.

Arteta’s arrival has sparked an upturn in his form and confidence though and the hope will be that Saturday proves to be a rare error.

Cascarino isn’t convinced. He thinks his schoolboy mistake simply reiterates Arsenal’s need for better quality.

He told The Times: “Granit Xhaka’s error for Burnley’s equaliser against Arsenal is one of the worst you will see.

“Arsenal are trying to play out from the bac but there is no way the midfielder, with three Burnley players bearing down on him should demanding the ball inside his own box.

“Mikel Arteta said before this game that the club needs an ‘unprecedented’ level of transfer activity if they are to compete at the top of the league again.

“It is difficult to see Xhaka being a part of any long-term plans.”

TBR View: Cascarino comments perhaps harsh

It’s clear to see the point which the pundit is trying to make but this error was a rare one on the part of Xhaka this weekend.

He’s been a regular in the first-team this season and has been a consistent performer in Arteta’s time.

Xhaka perhaps isn’t a long-term solution but with the right players around him, the £100,000-a-week player can still do a job.

The challenge for the 28-year-old is to quickly get back on track and if he does that he can still do a job for the Gunners next season.