Post by Webster on May 19, 2023 19:08:49 GMT
(The Guardian) Xhaka's Arsenal future up in the air
Mikel Arteta has said discussions over the future of Granit Xhaka will wait until the end of the season. The Swiss international midfielder is approaching the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen are interested in signing him.
“The clarity is there,” said Arteta. “He is a player that has played I think every minute since I have been the manager. He is an incredibly respected figure at the club. He has a great story around him with what he has achieved at the club in going through very tough moments and he is a key and very important part of us. Whatever happens is something we will discuss, certainly not now.”
Xhaka has endured a largely successful career at Arsenal since signing for the club from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016 but was stripped of the club captaincy and looked to have burnt his bridges with Gooners after gesturing angrily at them, mouthing obscenities and discarding his shirt after they cheered his substitution during a match against Crystal Palace in 2019. Despite occasional bouts of hot-headedness, he has since achieved the near impossible by firmly re-establishing himself as a fan favourite at the club.