Granit Xhaka has said he will jet off to Dubai just mere hours after Switzerland crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in humiliating fashion to Portugal.
Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Swiss captain revealed that he will be flying out as soon as possible to reunite with the Arsenal first team in the UAE as Xhaka and Switzerland suffered a 6-1 loss in the round of 16, with Portugal playing out one of the performances of the competition.
It was a devastating way for Switzerland to end their tournament, with Xhaka and company progressing out of a difficult group and looking like the favourites to beat Portugal in the first knockout match. However, it wasn’t meant to be for the Arsenal midfielder.
And now, the 30-year-old is set to reunite with Arsenal as early as today, with Mikel Arteta taking what remains of his team out to Dubai for some warm-weather training as well as some mid-season friendlies against the likes of AC Milan and Olympique Lyonnais.
Indeed, Xhaka’s return to Arsenal already will be a major boost for the club, who this World Cup have lost Gabriel Jesus to injury. And the £35m midfielder himself seemed excited to return to the Gunners having crashed out of the World Cup in the worst possible fashion.
Xhaka said: “I have something to achieve there [with Arsenal], and I know the team is in Dubai at the moment doing the pre-season. I’m flying back to Dubai, going back to the team, and going back to the training and trying to forget the tournament now.”
Xhaka right to forget Switzerland’s World Cup exit
Switzerland were backed by many to be a dark horse of the World Cup, and heading into the Portugal clash, there was good reason to believe that Xhaka’s side had a chance of winning the tie. However, football is a funny old game, and the Arsenal star is right to forget what happened in Qatar that night.
With Arsenal top of the Premier League, there are now more important things at stake with Xhaka than dwelling on Switzerland’s World Cup exit. And focusing on his club will be helpful in getting the midfielder back to his best ahead of the return of English football.
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