Darren Bent has paid tribute to Granit Xhaka‘s evolution at Arsenal, admitting that the midfielder looks completely ‘reborn’ this season.
What a difference a year makes for the Switzerland international.
This time last year, Arsenal supporters were livid with Xhaka once again following a red card in a 5-0 defeat away to Manchester City.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach star has 11 red cards in his career, the vast majority of which have been since joining the North Londoners in a £30 million deal [Sky Sports] under Arsene Wenger.
There is, however, a much greater sense of maturity in Xhaka’s game this season.
So far, Mikel Arteta is playing him in a slightly more advanced midfied role and the 30-year-old is being allowed to flourish as a footballer a lot more regularly, setting up three goals this season and scoring once.
And Bent is stunned by the player’s transformation, crediting the Spanish manager with it.
He told Premier League Productions: “We’ve seen Granit Xhaka step up. He’s been a revelation. He’s almost been like a new signing. There were times when he was a little bit of a liability, particularly in big games. But because of the trust Mikel Arteta has shown in him, it’s almost like he doesn’t want to let him down. He looks like a player reborn.”
Xhaka is even winning over the fanbase, many of whom washed their hands of him a long time ago.
And those he hasn’t yet converted into believers could be helped along the way if he helps Arsenal beat Spurs in tomorrow’s North London derby.
Then again, it’s also the sort of game where he could undo all of his good work and pick up a straight red card.
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