Don Hutchison has been left amazed by Granit Xhaka’s turnaround at Arsenal and how supporters previously wanted the club to ‘get rid’ of the midfielder.
When Mikel Arteta took charge of Arsenal in 2019, only a month or so before, Granit Xhaka was storming off the pitch against Crystal Palace and heading down the tunnel with his career seemingly over at the Emirates.
But fast forward to the present, and just over the weekend, the 30-year-old was scoring as the Gunners put four goals past that very same side to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table – Michael Owen praised Xhaka’s performance and the confusion he is causing opposition players.
Nonetheless, that’s an incredible turnaround from Xhaka and the former captain, after becoming the villain of the piece, he is probably now a fan favourite.
The £30 million man (Sky Sports) has six goals to his name this season, with his performances not just improving, but also his attacking numbers.
It will be some sight if Xhaka is lifting that Premier League title in May, as former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison praised the player, as he told PL Productions (20/03/23 at 3:40 pm).
“It’s another part of their story,” said Hutchison. “I mean Granit Xhaka was finished. No chance (of having a future at Arsenal). I thought he was done.
“Every Arsenal fan would have said ‘get rid and see the back of him’, so what a turnaround.”
SOON-TO-BE ARSENAL LEGEND?
If Xhaka had left Arsenal in 2019, then nobody would have batted an eye-lid, not even the player himself.
You would have been a very rich man, if someone out there predicted that Xhaka would then be in a situation where he could be now called an ‘Arsenal legend’.
It’s beyond incredible, but most importantly deserved, with the player deserving credit and Mikel Arteta himself.
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