Arsenal

Granit Xhaka admits his "heart was gone" from Arsenal before Arteta arrival

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 09 November 2020

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka credits Mikel Arteta for reinvigorating his Gunners career after he fell out of love with the club last season.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has opened up on his struggles at the Emirates Stadium before the arrival of Mikel Arteta.

The Switzerland captain seemed destined to leave after his substitution drama against Crystal Palace last season, with a section of Arsenal fans cheering as his number went up and Xhaka reacting angrily as he trudged off the pitch.

However, the midfielder has since been handed a new lease of life under Arteta at a time where his future in North London looked bleak, and Xhaka has credited the Spaniard with reinvigorating his Arsenal career.

Speaking to Swiss outlet NZZ am Sonntag, Xhaka said: "I was completely surprised by this. I am a person, I have emotions, things hurt me too.

"The disparaging gesture in the direction of the fans that I made back then might not be done today. I didn't go to training for two days, wondering what happened in the first place. My heart was already gone from the club.

"The fact that I'm still there today is thanks to coach Mikel Arteta. He first wanted me to explain how I feel and why I had acted this way... I was able to describe my motives to him and let out what was on my mind."

Xhaka has started five of Arsenal's eight Premier League games in the 2020-21 campaign, but the 28-year-old was an unused substitute in their two most recent matches against Manchester United and Aston Villa.