Arsenal: Xhaka explains how Arteta revived his career in 2019

The Swiss midfielder came close to leaving Arsenal after a run of poor performances under Unai Emery.

Granit Xhaka has opened up on Mikel Arteta’s key role in convincing him to stay at Arsenal in 2019.

During a challenging period for Arsenal under then-manager Unai Emery, Xhaka faced criticism from fans and was booed during a match.

Despite a move to Hertha Berlin being on the horizon, Arteta’s intervention persuaded him to reconsider. In an interview with the Athletic, Xhaka said: “The club showed me little respect even though I was the captain.

“It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, apart from one person: Mikel Arteta.”

Under Arteta’s guidance, Xhaka’s final season at Arsenal proved fruitful, with the midfielder registering nine goals and seven assists.

Xhaka added on Arteta’s influence: “Mikel picked me up and brought me back to playing at a level I always knew I could play at.

“Four years later, it ended with me almost scoring a hat-trick [against Wolves in his last appearance] and Arsenal fans screaming that they wanted me to stay. It was a goosebumps moment.”

Since leaving Arsenal, Xhaka has become a cornerstone of Bayer Leverkusen’s midfield line as they lead the Bundesliga table under Xabi Alonso.