Well, Granit Xhaka continues to get Arsenal supporters back onside, with his latest comments.
The Switzerland international has been exceptional under Mikel Arteta this season, possibly the Gunners’ most consistent performer as the Spaniard’s side sit top of the Premier League.
In a slightly more advanced midfield role, Xhaka has scored four goals and set up three across all competitions.
It’s no secret that Arsenal supporters haven’t been happy with the 30-year-old in recent years, due to his rash tackling, poor decision-making and other offences which have riled the fanbase.
This season, however, he has transformed the fans’ perception of him – and it continues to happen.
Even when Xhaka and the Swiss national side were eliminated from the World Cup this week, the Arsenal midfielder immediately revealed his intentions to join his club teammates in Dubai, an hour away from Qatar.
He said via The Standard: “The Premier League is waiting and, of course, I wanted to be here longer than this. But we lost the game today and I am happy to go back now with the team.”
The ability to switch mentalities so rapidly, from exiting the World Cup to focusing on a Premier League title challenge again, is really quite remarkable.
And here’s what Charles Watts – who covers Arsenal for Goal – told his YouTube channel, in response to those comments.
He said: “It’s interesting when you see different players and how they approach [things]. It doesn’t surprise me with Granit, because that’s the kind of player he is. It’ll be interesting if Arsenal or Arteta just says to him, ‘look, calm down a little bit, just give yourself a few days, get home, have a little bit of time with your family, then come over to Dubai.”
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