It was a busy weekend for me with exams and all (yes, I’m a post-graduate student) but the group stages of Euro 2016 are gradually reaching their climaxes with teams knowing their respective destinies. From an Arsenal perspective, Granit Xhaka was a force yet again, as Switzerland shared the spoils with France. He made 94 passes (completed 89% of them), won three tackles, won three aerial duels and had 10 ball recoveries in another combative midfield performance. He even got his shirt ripped off!
Many Gooners didn’t know much about this guy in his Bundesliga days and it was evident that we were going to see things for ourselves in a major tournament like the Euros and boy, has he been impressive or not. He’s so tidy on the ball and his passing range is fantastic. He is definitely going to be a mainstay in the team and it’s up to Arsene Wenger to determine his partner in central midfield.
Speaking of Wenger, the boss was interviewed by a Chinese lady and was asked about Jamie Vardy,
“Jamie Vardy is at the moment at Leicester and on what I know, he will stay at Leicester”
As you’d expect from modern-day journos, all sorts of headlines popped up all over the internet. Some confirmed that Vardy was definitely staying at Leicester but a wiser person would know that this decision solely rests on the player himself. He was recently interviewed but he remained coy on his future, citing that playing with England at the Euros was his priority at the moment.
Vardy would be part of the England squad that takes on Slovakia tonight and I’d expect him to start ahead of the likes of Raheem Sterling, except Roy Hodgson believes that he would remain as an impact sub. He grabbed a goal in his last appearance for the Three Lions, latching unto Ashley Williams’ error to poke the ball past Wayne Hennessey.
Vardy would be 30 in January, and he has already stated that he would make a decision on his future after the European Championships. I guess it’s worth the wait.
Sayonara.
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