Pep likes him because he is skillful and can circulate the ball - except too often it is tika taka for its own sake with no penetration or final product. A lack of mobility off the ball compounds the problem.
He slows the game down, puts players out of position and lacks the level of drive, energy and threat of his team mates. He must have the worst results per start of any of our players and no accident he was subbed against Liverpool and United. He scored a great goal today but went missing too many times.
The problem is he does not fit in our system and his weaknesses make others look bad. We get exposed and we concede goals. He is a good player who reminds me of Ozil but I would llike to see him elsewhere.