July 8th 2024.
Xavi Simons is making headlines at Euro 2024 as he leads the tournament in assists. However, not everyone is completely satisfied with his performance, including Arsenal legend Ian Wright. Despite being a highly coveted player, Simons has not quite lived up to expectations during the Euros.
The young Dutch midfielder entered the tournament with high expectations, having delivered impressive performances during his loan spells at PSV and RB Leipzig. In fact, he was able to secure a spot in Ronald Koeman's national team after an exceptional season at Bundesliga, where he scored 10 goals and provided 15 assists in 43 appearances. However, his future at Paris Saint-Germain remains uncertain, with reports suggesting he may leave the club this summer.
Amidst this uncertainty, Arsenal has been one of the clubs showing interest in the 21-year-old, along with Manchester United, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich. Simons has been a key player for the Netherlands, featuring in all five games and starting four of them. He has been instrumental in the team's success, registering three assists, tied with Spain's 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal for the most assists in the tournament.
But despite his impressive statistics, Simons' performances have not been entirely convincing. He has only played 11 times for PSG since joining from Barcelona in 2019, and Wright believes he has not lived up to the hype. During the Dutch national team's quarter-final match against Turkey, where they emerged victorious with a 2-1 score, Wright expressed his disappointment with Simons' performance on his show Wrighty's House.
"I was expecting a little more from Xavi Simons," Wright said. "I know they took off Steven Bergwijn in the first half, and I could see why. But if they had taken off Simons, I would have understood that too. I didn't see enough from him, despite all the buzz around him from his time in the Bundesliga."
Wright, like many others, was hoping to see the same dynamism from Simons that he displayed during his time in the German league. However, he believes that the midfielder has not yet lived up to his potential, and he is still waiting to see more from him.
Despite the disappointment, it is unsure if Arsenal will act on their interest in Simons. For now, the club is focused on finalizing a deal with another Euro 2024 star, Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian defender has already agreed to personal terms with the Gunners, and they are currently in negotiations with Bologna for a £40m transfer. As for Simons, only time will tell if he can continue to impress and live up to the high expectations set for him.
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