I'd say Guendouzi is technically a lot more gifted than Parlour.

Wot? The Romford Pele? Surely not.

All points bulletin out for Hodd. Where have you been hiding? Big changes at The Arsenal. Emery's era has begun and not a peep. Report in!

You seem quite sniffy about being neat and tidy or a continuity player. Comparing him to Pirlo is about as useful as comparing him to Vieira or Keane. There are very few as good as Pirlo in his role. If Xhaka isn't, that doesn't mean he can't do a good job for Arsenal. Koscielny was never as good as Adams or Campbell but was still a very fine player, even though I think he now needs replacing. Mkhitaryian isn't as good as Brady but will, I expect, be a fine signing. I'd say the same of Aubameyang even though he's not as good as Henry.

Xhaka isn't a defensive midfielder, so is it fair to criticise him when he was asked to play there? Dier couldn't play Xhaka's continuity game, so would it be fair to moan about him there? Babu mentioned a midfield of Torreira, Xhaka and Ramsey working. My guess is that this may well be Ramsey's last season due to his contract situation. But I can see Torreira, Xhaka and Guendouzi also working.

I'd say Guendouzi is technically a lot more gifted than Parlour.

Maybe a 5.5/10 in his current position.

I think the casual passes and the lacking urgency is still a problem from the Wengker times...with his tippy-tappy-tikki-takki-what-the-fuki tactics. No-one forward is making any runs, ball gets passed from the left to right and back again, etc., etc.

Playing him further back, with a gaping hole in the middle that used to be our strength ( good CB's, a defensive system, and a good keeper ) doesn't help either.

The squad at the moment is unbalanced, and we have to fill round holes with square pegs.

Xhaka doesn't have to be THE SUPERSTAR, but in a TEAM he would be invaluable, keeping the ball moving, a great left foot, strong and not afraid of a challenge.

Football is a TEAM sport, not a collection of individuals.
Our "team" is non-existent. As yet.
Xhaka would be a vital ingredient in a team.

I see Parlour as a club legend but not that technically gifted.

Ive had quite enough of us being pushed around physically and ld rather have a few more Xhakas in the team than any more mhikis and mesuts and other assorted pussies who disappear when it gets a bit tasty.

Well done South Africa .... we were awful ....... Beauden Barrett missed three easy conversions

I like Xhaka, flaws and all. What I particularly like about him is that he gives precisely zero *%^@* about who hes going up against, he isnt a bottler, he doesnt back down, and hes a unit. As a result Im not looking at Fellaini and Matic at Utd, for example, and thinking theyre just gonna squash us. Hes not fussed, so neither am I.

Ive had quite enough of us being pushed around physically and ld rather have a few more Xhakas in the team than any more mhikis and mesuts and other assorted pussies who disappear when it gets a bit tasty.

He is far from being exceptional. He wouldn't make the first 11 for any of the other top 6 clubs.

Sokratis in particular had a good game in defense.

Reid’s Nelson scores on his debut for hoffenheim

I think this is the accurate analysis for Xhaka. He should be playing for someone like Newcastle or Everton

If Dier and Eellaini make appearances, I find it hard to see how Xhaka wouldn't play games for Tottenham and Manchester United.