GRANIT EXIT STILL NOT SET IN STONE
Arteta is a fan of Arsenal bad boy
GRANIT XHAKA looks set to have a future at Arsenal after all — because new manager Mikel Arteta is a fan.
The midfielder appeared on the way out when Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin offered £20million for the unhappy 27-year-old to leave next month. And while Xhaka has fought his way back into the team after telling the fans to "f* * * off" against Crystal Palace in October, his form has not really improved.
Xhaka, who played in Germany for Borussia Monchengladbach between 2012 and 2016, has told friends he is keen to return to the Bundesliga — but now Arteta is set to put a stop to any move. The boss, who takes charge of his first game today at Bournemouth, revealed that when he was No2 to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City they wanted to sign Xhaka. Arteta said: "When I was going from Arsenal to City to start coaching in 2016 and we were looking in that position, Xhaka was on my list. That is how much I liked him. I thought he was going to be a terrific player. He’s done some good things and now he has got stuck in a difficult situation that was growing and growing and one day exploded.
“But I’ve been amazed by how this relationship is starting to come back, and I think the fans have been very positive about him, as he has as well.
“I want him to feel we’re right behind him, not just myself but the whole club.” Arteta wants total commitment today. He said: “I’m expecting full aggression. I want a big reaction after we lose the ball. I want our body language to be intact, so energy is going to be top.” Freddie Ljungberg will stay at the club as Arteta’s assistant.Dutchman Albert Stuivenberg has been appointed as part of Arteta’s backroom staff and Steve Round will also join the Gunners as assistant coach, while Inaki Cana Pavon has joined from Brentford to work with Sal Bibbo as goalkeeping coach.