Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on midfielder Granit Xhaka regarding the way he has bounced back from a disciplinary issue.
From being the villain at one point this season, Granit Xhaka has turned around his fortunes to be one of the Gunners’ most important figures.
The Swiss midfielder has a history of getting into ‘trouble’ and has often been criticized for a lack of maturity on the pitch.
The most befitting moment of the above point came when Xhaka had a run-in with his own supporters around a year ago after being subbed off.
He was stripped of the captaincy and left out of the team at the time. His Arsenal career looked over at that stage but Mikel Arteta slowly restored him back into the starting lineup.
Xhaka has played 14 Premier League games for the Gunners this season, but another rash moment saw him sent-off in the dismal defeat to Burnley last December
He grabbed Ashley Westwood by the throat in what was an ‘unacceptable’ act as described by Arteta at the time.
However, the boss restored Xhaka to the team once again and the player seems to be working his way back to the heart of fans.
His return to the Gunners’ XI coincided with the club’s start of a winning run. Arsenal are currently unbeaten in their last five league games.
Arteta has hailed the ‘phenomenal’ impact of Xhaka and credits the player for turning his fortunes around after a difficult period.
“After the red card and with the history that he had, he was in a difficult place and we had to try and bring him back where we believe he can be and where he should be – which is being one of the leaders of the team and giving us stability and the presence he can provide to the team and to the club,” Arteta said as per The Independent.
“I think since he’s been back he’s been phenomenal; he’s playing really, really well.
“Against Palace, he had some really important moments and he’s still young. He’s still a player who can evolve. It’s great for us to have him back.”
Xhaka is expected to feature in midfield once again as the Gunners take on Newcastle at the Emirates on Monday night.
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