BRUCE: GIVE BIG JOE TIME, HE’LL BE FINE
ARSENAL ace Granit Xhaka needs to start proving his worth, says Emmanuel Petit.
Unai Emery’s new captain (below) joined the club from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 but Gunners legend Petit says the 27-year-old has failed to live up to expectations.
“I have not been impressed by Xhaka since he signed for Arsenal,”
Petit said. “When they try to get the ball back he is making so many fouls and getting yellow cards, stupidly as well. He was named captain but I don’t see him as leader in the team.”
● Petit was speaking to Paddy Power News. To read more, visit news.paddypower.com.
STEVE BRUCE insists Newcastle have no regrets about spending £40million on struggling front-man Joelinton. The Brazilian has scored only once since arriving from Hoffenheim in a club-record deal this summer.
Bruce says the 23-year-old fits United’s policy of signing young stars with potential rather than proven campaigners.
His job is to get the best out of the target man, starting at Leicester City today.
Bruce said: “To be fair to him he’s in a new country, in the Premier League, he’s the number nine but he’ll be fine.”
Bruce admitted Joelinton and his Toon team-mates found it difficult in last week’s goalless draw with Brighton.
But he added: “I’ve got no problem that he will be a very, very decent player.we have to get better service to him, I understand that too, and we’ve been a little bit hamstrung in terms of personnel to play with him.”
Bruce believes Newcastle are no different from the rest of the league in only spending big on youngsters who can take time to settle.
He said: “I agree with the policy. I agree with it because it’s everybody’s policy. There’s not too many want to spend big money on a 29-year-old.tottenham is the same, Man U is the same.we’re not alone in this.
“If you’re going to spend big, big money then it makes sense to spend it on a younger one.”
Joelinton has looked frustrated at his lack of chances but has impressed with his workrate. Bruce added: “It’s like an Englishman going to the Bundesliga, they find it difficult to adapt, and if you go to France or whatever, it’s a totally different game to what the intensity here is, so you have to give him a little bit of time.
“I still think six games is a bit early, but we have to try to get service to him.
“He’s still learning the trade a little bit.
“It’s not as if he’s missed chance after chance, we haven’t created enough for him and that’s got to be addressed going forward.
“He is a big physical animal. He enjoys that side of it, that’s not going to be a problem. “He’s a target-man, that’s his natural game. But left foot and right foot as a finisher, then he’s very decent when he gets in front of goal.”