Mikel Arteta is very much a no-nonsense Arsenal manager.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has just been culled following a disciplinary issue, having done the same to Mesut Ozil toward the end of his time at the Emirates Stadium.
No matter the profile, the Spanish manager isn’t to be messed with but, when it comes to Granit Xhaka, Arteta consistently submits.
No matter how many times the Switzerland international costs Arsenal with ill discipline on the field, the Gunners boss invariably welcomes him back into the first XI with open arms once any suspension has been served.
As recently as January, the 29-year-old got sent off in the first half of a League Cup semi-final at Liverpool for what was his fifth red card in an Arsenal shirt, having also received his marching orders against Manchester City earlier in the campaign.
Arteta has shown remarkable patience and trust in Xhaka and that’s why if a rumour from Italy is accurate, he’ll finally wash his hands with him.
According to Calciomercato, Roma will try again to prise the former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder from North London – and Xhaka remains keen to join up with Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho spent most of last summer trying to sign the former Arsenal captain but ultimately failed.
However, the notion that Xhaka still wants out of Arsenal, even after Arteta has taken this many bullets for him, is unlikely to go down well with the former Manchester City assistant.
Like anything, faith only stretches so far and if Arteta discovers that Xhaka still wants to team up with Mourinho, he shouldn’t stand in his way this time.
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