N’Golo Kante is joining Chelsea. And the response from Arsenal fans is predictable.

” Lost Kante. Need a quality holding midfielder and Wenger lets another gem go. Absolute c***” is one comment I have seen on it. And it is a comment I have seen by many people.

It shows how short Arsenal fan’s memories are:

Arsenal have already signed their defensive midfielder. Granit Xhaka.

Having been around for what seems like forever, Xhaka is still just 23 – younger than N’Golo Kante. As a teenager, he was described as the best talent in Switzerland, ahead of Xherdan Shaqiri. Ottmar Hitzfeld likened him to a “young Schweinsteiger”.

With an 85 per cent pass completion percentage this season, second best at Mönchengladbach, he combines playmaking ability with a combative style him consistently ranked in the top 30 Bundesliga players for tackles and interceptions per game. Xhaka also leads the league for red cards (three) and second for fouls per game (2.6). Nastiness that Arsenal have missed in the middle of the park for years.

At 6ft 1in, Xhaka combines the physical frame and range of passing to hold his own. He has been Gldbach’s creative hub for the last 18 months, sculpting play from the heart of midfield with his immaculate left foot.

Technically gifted, he reads the game well and is robust enough to do the nasty work as well; For reading of the game and an ability to pick a pass, he is very much like Jack Wilshere. However is far more durable, and a lot more physical.

Perhaps most importantly, he is a leader.

So those of you moaning we have not signed N’Gole Kante, please remember, we have secured Granit Xhaka, a superior player who suits Arsenal’s game a lot more.

Keenos
Follow @KeenosAFC