‘He helped me a lot’ – Arsenal star Granit Xhaka insists he would have left club if it wasn’t for ‘freak’ Mikel Arteta
ARSENAL ace Granit Xhaka admits he wouldn't be playing for the club if it hadn't been for manager Mikel Arteta.
Xhaka has endured a turbulent six-year stint at the Emirates, which saw him amass five red cards, and it all came to a head in 2019 while under Unai Emery, who made him captain.
However, the midfielder was stripped of the armband after a game against Crystal Palace that saw Arsenal fans cheering while he was taken off the pitch.
The Switzerland international retaliated by ironically gesturing and swearing at the crowd on camera.
The 29-year-old's future at the club looked bleak but it all changed once Arteta replaced Emery shortly later.
The Spanish tactician helped the Swiss ace turn his fortunes around in stunning fashion and reinstated him as a first-team regular.
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The ex-Borussia Monchengladbach star insists he wouldn't be playing at Arsenal today without this "freak" of a manager.
Xhaka told : "Without him [Arteta], I would not be here in this football club anymore. He helped me a lot when I was completely down.
"He took me aside, helped me with small things, step by step, tactically, as a person, mentality, between the team and the club, tried to help me as well with the fans. He is a freak in a positive way.
"Tactically, he knows everything. How he prepares the team before training, before the games, is unbelievable.
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"I had a lot of coaches, but I have to put Mikel as one of the top ones in my career."
Xhaka was linked with a move away from Arsenal last summer as Roma manager Jose Mourinho was keen to sign him.
However, Arteta and technical director Edu would have none of it as they continued to show confidence in the midfielder.
Xhaka added: "It was something, yes. [It was] very close. Mikel was the guy with Edu, they didn't let me go because they wanted to keep me here.
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"Of course, my first reaction was to stay at the football club, but they opened the door: 'If something comes, I can leave.'
"I have to be honest as well. I don't want to say a name now, but the door was open for me to leave the club as well.
"But in the end, people decided to keep me here. I am very happy here. My family is very happy here. I have a contract for another two years.
"I can see something is growing here. Sometimes you need more time than the people want, but I have a feeling that we are in a good way.
"Last season, we were very close to achieving something and this season, let's start and after we can speak again after 38 games. Hopefully we are where we want to be."