#2 No real world class midfield general
Before most of you lose your minds and call me deluded, let me make it clear that a midfield general is someone who links the defence to the attack and I don’t regard Mesut Ozil as a midfield general simply because he plays too far forward to dictate the tempo of the system.
When Granit Xhaka was bought by the Gunners, the fans were hopeful that the search for a real midfield general had ended. And, in a way, it has. On his day, Xhaka can be one of the finest players in the world, a Xabi Alonso-esque midfielder who could make inch-perfect tackles in one moment and then a play an astute long ball at the very next.
However, he is yet to reach his best and given his tendency to see red cards in games, it will be some time before he could be regarded as world class. The Swiss’ international’s lack of composure and control has often seen him get into trouble.
For instance, he missed the game against Chelsea—a match where his services were the most needed to counter the behemoth that N’Golo Kante is. But he was out due to suspension and Arsenal lacked a true general.
Arsene Wenger tried to make-do with Francis Coquelin, but the Frenchman looked more like a plastic tape covering over a crack on a concrete wall.
