“Only one person wanted me to stay at Arsenal” — Granit Xhaka

Former Arsenal captain and player, Granit Xhaka, opens up on his rocky Arsenal career and his eventual exit from the club in a new interview.

According to the Swiss, only one person at the club was adamant he stayed at the Emirates during a challenging 2019 season that saw speculations surrounding his future.

Granit Xhaka, left Arsenal last summer to join Bayer Leverkusen, but before then, rumors had speculated an earlier exit from North London for Italian side, AS Roma.

Speaking on his troubled period at the club, Granit Xhaka revealed that amid the turmoil, Arteta was the solitary figure who expressed a desire for him to remain at the Emirates.

The Swiss midfielder, once a pivotal part of the Gunners squad that contended for the Premier League title, faced scrutiny for his performances, with inconsistency drawing criticism from the Arsenal faithful.

In a particularly tense moment in 2019, Granit Xhaka famously reacted to jeers from fans by cupping his ears while being substituted against Crystal Palace.

Subsequently, he was stripped of the captaincy and nearly finalized a move to Hertha Berlin.

Reflecting on that period, Xhaka disclosed to The Athletic that Arteta was the sole advocate for his continued presence at Arsenal. He highlighted Arteta’s persuasion despite the prevailing sentiment within the club to part ways with him.

He recalled the pivotal moment when Arteta’s conviction prompted a change of heart, expressing,

“I said to him, ‘I just want to be somewhere where the fans don’t boo me’. But he was so convincing.”

Xhaka admitted that, for the first time in his career, he made a decision without consulting his family, choosing to stay at Arsenal based on Arteta’s assurance. This decision, he noted, reignited his form, allowing him to perform at the level he knew he was capable of.

Conversations are going on; Fabrizio Romano on Manchester United transfer plans