Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has said that Mikel Arteta was the man who stopped the Swiss international from leaving the club in January 2020.
Speaking to the Players’ Tribune, the 29-year-old revealed that he was on the verge of leaving north London, with his suitcases quite literally packed at the door ready for a dramatic exit from Arsenal.
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However, Xhaka said that Arteta changed that all by convincing the midfielder to stay, with the Emirates star saying he ‘I broke my own rules’, when deciding to remain with the Premier League side.
Whilst the midfielder has had his problems with sending offs, there’s no denying that Xhaka, particularly this season, has been a consistent performer for Arsenal. Yet things could have been much different had it now been for Arteta.
Xhaka said: “When Mikel was appointed in December, I told him that I wanted to leave. He understood completely. We had a second chat a few days later, and when I went in, I had talked it through with my wife. Our suitcases were literally placed by the door.”
The midfielder added: “But then Mikel began to talk about how I was a big part of his plans. I liked his warmth. He was honest, straight. Clear plans. I felt I could trust him. He told me to give him six months to prove me wrong, and then if I still wanted to leave, no problem.”
Xhaka’s decision to stay at Arsenal is paying off despite controversies
Since arriving in 2016 for a reported £35m, Xhaka has never been far from controversy for Arsenal. Yet despite what has happened since deciding to stay in 2020, the midfielder has been a reliable performer for the Gunners.
This season especially has seen the former Bundesliga star play his best football yet in north London, and alongside Thomas Partey, Arsenal had one of their best midfield duos in an extremely long time which has played a key role in the club’s push for top-four.
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