Home Football Granit Xhaka’s Heartbreaking Comment to Mikel Arteta: A Revelation About Arsenal Fans on the Brink of Transfer

Granit Xhaka’s Heartbreaking Comment to Mikel Arteta: A Revelation About Arsenal Fans on the Brink of Transfer

Football — 12/20/2023

Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfielder, has opened up about his tumultuous period at Arsenal, revealing his despairing conversations with manager Mikel Arteta when he believed his darkest days at the club would lead to a transfer. Xhaka, stripped of the club captaincy and subjected to boos from Gunners’ fans, admitted that he had mentally prepared to leave, feeling that his “heart and soul” had already departed and his bags were packed.

However, everything changed with the arrival of Mikel Arteta as the boss in December 2019. Xhaka credits Arteta for his resurgence and praises him for being the only person at the club who wаnted him to stay. Despite the lack of respect shown by the club, Xhaka recognized Arteta’s support and expressed his gratitude.

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Reflecting on his difficult times, Xhaka revealed the devastating impact it had on him, recounting moments of despair in hotel rooms during away games. The desire to part ways with the club was strong, but Arteta’s intervention and insistence on Xhaka staying made the midfielder reconsider his decision. In their initial meeting, Xhaka had already packed his bags and was ready to board a plane, but Arteta’s belief in him inspired a change of heart.

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Xhaka’s father, who had previously encouraged his son to stay strong, for the first time advised him to leave. However, it was the second meeting with Arteta that solidified Xhaka’s resolve to continue with Arsenal. The midfielder’s journey from anguish to redemption serves as a testament to the transformative impact of a supportive manager-player relationship.

Granit Xhaka bounced back at Arsenal thanks to Mikel Arteta but was happy to move on to Bayer Leverkusen last summer

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Now, Xhaka has since moved on to Bayer Leverkusen, having left Arsenal last summer. Despite the challenges he faced during his time at the club, he reflects on his experience with gratitude for Arteta’s crucial role in his resurgence. Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to make a return to the Emirates Stadium in the upcoming match against West Ham. This occasion will serve as a true farewell for Xhaka, allowing him to bid a proper goodbye to the players, staff, and Arsenal fans.

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