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Arsenal news: ‘I’m surprised Emery keeps picking him’ - Nicholas predicts big team change
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery will not hesitate to drop Granit Xhaka if he continues to make basic defensive errors.
That is the opinion of Arsenal hero and Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
Xhaka has started every Premier League game for the Gunners so far this season.
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The Switzerland international has often had his critics since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2016.
Xhaka’s defensive duties have been lessened this season by the arrival of the impressive Lucas Torreira to partner him in the middle of the pitch.
If he doesn’t cut them out, I do genuinely think that Unai Emery will change it and he’ll say ‘you’re out’
But Xhaka was guilty of a big error which led to Wolves’ goal in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates earlier this month.
Nicholas says it is not just the Wolves match where he has seen mistakes from Xhaka this season.
And the Scot reckons Emery will take the 26-year-old out of the team if they continue.
“I’m actually quite surprised that he keeps him in the team at times,” Nicholas said of Xhaka.
“He actually looked better when he was in the left-back position at times.
“But this is what Arsenal do and this is what (Emery) is saying about standards. It has to be better.
“He can teach everyday, George Graham (former Arsenal manager) defensively would teach everyday.
"In, out, in, out - everybody would do it.
“But the basic things that Xhaka has got wrong, not just then against Wolves but time and time again that he disappoints you, have to be cut out.
“If he doesn’t cut them out, I do genuinely think that Unai Emery will change it and he’ll say ‘you’re out’ and they’ll be change.”
Arsenal are back in Premier League action today when they visit Bournemouth (1.30pm).
Emery's side are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions but have drawn their last three in the league.
Xhaka kept his place in the starting XI, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Sokratis replacing Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette.