x-y=a²+b²+21-4(2b-a)
=a²+b²+21-8b+4a
=a²+4a+4+b²-8b+16+1
=(a+2)²+(b-4)²+1
∵(a+2)²≥0 (b-4)²≥0
∴x-y=(a+2)²+(b-4)²+1>0
∴x>y