Wenger said Xhaka remains a big part of his plans, but hinted that he may continue with a central partnership of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin for Saturday’s trip to Hull.
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“It’s September, we started in August, so it’s one month”.
Former player Ian Wright took to social networking site Twitter in order to lavish praise on new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka as he scored his first goal for the club in the 4-1 win at Hull City.
Hull’s game plan has worked well for them under Mike Phelan – who should finally agree a contract to become permanent manager after a further round of talks next week – but Arsenal are a unsafe side to try to soak up pressure against.
The Gunners started the season with a home defeat to Liverpool and then a draw at Leicester.
“He can take people on much more and he has gained power as well”.
They should have been out of sight by half time, but Alexis Sanchez missed a penalty which would have put them 2-0 up after he’d deflected in the opener from an Alex Iwobi shot. Iwobi sidefooted the volley towards goal, and after taking a flick off the back of Alexis Sanchez’s heel looped into the back of the net.
“What we want is for him to use that in a very efficient way”, Wenger said.
The interim manager has now been offered a deal to become Steve Bruce’s full-time successor and will speak with his family about the deal on Sunday before meeting vice-chairman Ehab Allam on Monday. Today’s fixture will come to early for Aaron Ramsey, who has a hamstring injury, and Gabriel Paulista, who is short of match fitness.
The 23-year-old has started Arsenal’s last two games on the bench with Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin playing in central midfield, but Wenger has indicated the Switzerland worldwide could play farther forward. I think as well he has the engine to have an impact with his runs. The man who can not stop scoring – Robert Snodgrass – knocked in a penalty, conceded by Petr Cech, for Hull’s only goal of the match. I will now have a little read of it, discuss it with the family and hopefully take this club on, ‘ said Phelan.
The win sees Arsenal go third as their season kicks into gear, with Xhaka surely now ready to start regularly for the north Londoners.
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Stand-in Hull City manager Mike Phelan has revealed his thinking behind signing DR Congo global Dieumerci Mbokani on transfer deadline day earlier this month.
