Xhaka reveals how Arteta has helped him improve his game

In the midst of an underwhelming season for the Gunners so far, Granit Xhaka has once again backed manager Mikel Arteta.

Granit Xhaka says his relationship with Mikel Arteta is one of the reasons he has remained at the club.

The Swiss international is a controversial name at the Emirates and famously lost his captaincy after an altercation with the fans.

Under Arteta, Xhaka worked his way back to the starting lineup and has been one of the club’s most consistent performers in recent weeks.

However, the season has not gone according to plan for the Gunners. Arsenal now lie down in 11th place in the Premier League, and pressure is mounting on Arteta as a place in Europe next season slips away.

Ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Benfica on Thursday, Xhaka has once again declared his full support for the Gunners boss.

“It is difficult to say if this is my best season, or if I’m just in good shape,” the midfielder said as per the club’s website.

“The only thing I feel is I have a lot of confidence from the coach, I am in very good shape physically and as well mentally, and this is key to my game. For me everything has to be clear, what we want to do on the pitch and at the moment it is like this.”

💬 "At the moment I feel very important for the team and I am in good shape physically as well as mentally."

Keep it up, Granit 👏
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 24, 2021

“The coach is helping me a lot, everyone knows he is one of the reasons why I am still at the club and I have a very good relationship with him and he is helping me every day, on the pitch and off the pitch. I am very thankful for him, because if you have a coach like this who gives you the confidence and the freedom, it is easier for the player.”

Xhaka also mentioned that Arteta has helped him improve his game on the pitch.

“He was a midfielder so he knows the position exactly, this is very important for me because he can show me on the pitch my position, my body position with and without the ball, where I have to stay, how I can improve my game but as well the team’s game.”

“For me everything is clear for what I have to do on the pitch and this is the most important thing for me to help the team. Of course from the outside some people speak and say this is not good or this is good, but in the end for me the most important thing is that the team, the manager and the staff are happy with me and of course myself. At the moment I feel very important for the team and I am in good shape.”