Jack Wilshere has highlighted an unusual play he saw from a former Arsenal player at Euro 2024 this weekend.
The European championship is coming to a head in the coming days with the semi-finals set in stone, with William Saliba’s France taking on the favourites Spain as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale prepare to face the Netherlands.
It’s been an unusual tournament in Germany that has seen the hosts eliminated already with a number of breakout players making a name for themselves, with Arsenal believed to be close to signing Italy sensation Riccardo Calafiori.
Yet it is a former Arsenal star that has caught the eye of Wilshere this weekend.

Wilshere puzzled by Granit Xhaka’s positioning for England goal vs Switzerland
Writing for the Sun (07/07: p60), the former Arsenal maestro noted now Granit Xhaka was in a ‘strange’ position for Saka’s equalising goal for England on Sunday, with the Swiss midfielder failing to track the winger.
Saka’s goal ended up being pivotal for the Three Lions, as England forced the game to penalties as the Arsenal superstar slotted his spot kick away with Gareth Southgate’s side going five for five in the shootout, booking their place in the final four.
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Yet for Wilshere, it was Xhaka’s decision to not track Saka that was unusual for the former Arsenal man, especially with the Switzerland captain one of the most tactically sound midfielders currently playing.
Wilshere wrote: “It was strange that Xhaka was the one who let Bukayo Saka cut inside for the equaliser. It was a good decoy frun by Rice, but Xhaka knows how dangerous Saka is in those positions.”

Xhaka will be disappointed with his performance vs England
Xhaka has a real claim to being one of the best midfielders in the world based on current form, with the Bayer Leverkusen star exceptional for an Invincible side having enjoyed his best year yet for Arsenal a season prior.
And with Switzerland in good form this Euros, Xhaka will be left disappointed with his performance against England this weekend, with the 31-year-old not at his dynamic best in Dusseldorf.
Indeed, Switzerland had a real chance of making a statement by beating England, and had Xhaka been at his 100% best, there’s a chance the Alpine nation could have done just that in the quarter-final.
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