Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has delivered his early verdict on £32m Arsenalsummer signing Granit Xhaka.
Former midfield maestroScholes, who has been scathing in his criticism of Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere - currently on loan at Bournemouth - in the past has spoken out on the man recruited from Borussia Monchengladbach in May.
Granit Xhaka's game by numbers vs. Tottenham:
83% pass accuracy
4 tackles won
4 interceptions
1 chance created
Calming influence pic.twitter.com/w1hJspxKrs
Xhaka made his return to first team actionfollowing a three-match ban accrued for a straight red card against Swansea in October in Sunday's 1-1 draw with bitter rivals Tottenham, and put in a solid display in a scrappy encounter.
The Swiss midfielder certainly shares Scholes' penchant for a tough tackle, having collected eight red cards for club and country since April 2014, which is something new manager Arsene Wenger is sure to want to temper during his time in North London.
Many observers thought that Xhaka had been signed as a solution to Arsenal's long-held issues in the holding midfield area, but Wenger has preferred Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny as anchor-men, and has said he views his new recruit as a box-to-box player.
Wenger's statement raised a few eyebrows, but the move has looked like impressive management as Xhaka has provided a more combative presence than Aaron Ramsey in the engine room, while also netting three goals in all competitions, including a screamer against Hull City in September.
However, the confusion over Xhaka's best role has lead Scholes to be blunt and fairly dismissive over the contribution of Wenger's third most expensive signing in his Arsenal tenure.
"I'm really not sure what Granit Xhaka is all about - yet," a typically forthright Scholes told BT Sport's Premier League Tonight show.