Xhaka unhappy with assessment of Tomiyasu display against Liverpool

By Jordan Harris

In a video posted on Arsenal’s YouTube channel, Granit Xhaka has taken exception with a rating Takehiro Tomiyasu has been given for his performance in their superb win over Liverpool at the Emirates earlier this season.

Xhaka, Tomiyasu and William Saliba were taken part in a game where they guessed each other’s statistics from three particular games this season. Those fixtures were the North London derby against Spurs in October, the 3-2 win against the Reds, and the 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest.

Of course, the win over Spurs would have satisfied Arsenal fans like no other victory. But few performances have been a statement of the Gunners’ title credentials quite like the five-goal thriller against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Xhaka unhappy with assessment of Tomiyasu display against Liverpool

Arsenal took the lead twice before being pegged back by the visitors. However, Mikel Arteta’s men responded to every setback. And Bukayo Saka was able to score a second-half penalty to secure the win.

It was a win that suggested that something is different about this Arsenal side. And it is also fair to say that Tomiyasu has not been better at any stage this season.

The Japan international actually started at left-back. And he was given the daunting task of defending against Mo Salah. However, he did an outstanding job. Salah was taken off after 69 minutes.

In the game Arsenal have posted on their YouTube channel, Xhaka was guessing some of Tomiyasu’s statistics from that win. And those statistics resulted in the defender being given an overall score for the victory.

Tomiyasu’s rating was 111. According to the system being used, any score between 81 and 120 represents an average performance. Anything higher is a high performance.

And it is safe to say that Xhaka was not happy with his teammate’s score.

“No, sorry guys, but I think you watched a different game to us,” he told Arsenal’s YouTube channel. “This is not true. To play against Salah is not easy, no.

“He was taken off after 75 minutes. He put Henderson on the right to defend. So give him some credit please next time,” he joked.