Granit Xhaka and Arsenal – A healthy but necessary break up
By Tom Childs
Granit Xhaka has displayed some incredible professionalism in his time at the Emirates.
Despite many tipping that Xhaka had played his final game for the club, he soon found himself once again as the first name on the team sheet.
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He may have lost club captaincy – but as he did for previous managers Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery, Xhaka showed a level of professionalism on the training ground and in the dressing room that new manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t ignore.
Wanting a move away from the club the following January, it was Mikel Arteta who convinced Xhaka to stay, sighting him as a key part of his plans.
Further proof that no matter what supporters believed about Xhaka – his managers simply didn’t think the same.
A season and a half later, we are still having the same conversations about Xhaka. For every six or seven good games, there will be a catastrophic one.
In two clashes against Burnley alone in this past season, he almost single-handily cost Arsenal five points. Points that would have led to Arsenal playing in Europe this coming season.