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GUNNING FOR UNITED

Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka continues to woo Gunners fans by revealing win over Manchester United is career peak

Switzerland hard man and Euro 2016 star has won two top-flight titles but puts beating Premier League giants at top of list

Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka continues to win over Gunners fans by revealing his career highlight is beating Manchester United.

The 23-year-old has already won two Swiss Super Leagues with Basel and one Swiss Cup and he collected the under-17 World Cup in 2009.

 Xhaka says beating Man United is the highlight of his already impressive career
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Xhaka says beating Man United is the highlight of his already impressive careerCredit: PA:Press Association
 Granit Xhaka collected three red cards in the Bundesliga last season and could have got another red after just three minutes of his second Euro 2016 match
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Granit Xhaka collected three red cards in the Bundesliga last season and could have got another red after just three minutes of his second Euro 2016 matchCredit: Getty Images
 Xhaka does not mess around and could have been sent off after just three minutes for an ugly foul against Romania in the group match
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Xhaka does not mess around and could have been sent off after just three minutes for an ugly foul against Romania in the group matchCredit: Getty Images

He has been compared to Andres Pirlo and Bastian Schweinsteiger and named in the 2014-15 Bundsliga team of the season.

But he reveals the pinnacle of his already excellent career was knocking Alex Ferguson’s star-studded  side out of the  2011-12 Champions League with his boyhood European minnows Basel.

Xhaka said: “I think the best moment of my career was a game against Manchester United for Basel.

 Powerul midfielder even enjoys tackling unlike Arsenal team-mates
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Powerul midfielder even enjoys tackling unlike Arsenal team-matesCredit: Getty Images
 Switzerland Granit Xhaka gets a hold of his brother Taulant of Albania
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Switzerland Granit Xhaka gets a hold of his brother Taulant of AlbaniaCredit: Reuters

“We played in Manchester and drew 3-3, then we played at home and won 2-1 to knock them out and progress to the next round.

“It was big. Basel were a smaller club than Manchester United and to beat them 2-1 was a very nice moment.”

Xhaka’s combative style should revolutionise Arsene Wenger’s usually soft-centred side for next season.

The North Londonders travel to Old Trafford on November 19 and with Jose Mourinho in charge a fiery game, in the mould of the infamous Pizzagate from 2004 when the two sides went to war and clashed in the tunnel after the game, is on the cards.

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