‘Granit to feel love’

ARSENAL fans will love seeing Granit Xhaka at full throttle next season – when they are allowed back inside the Emirates, says Mikel Arteta.

And the Gunners boss is equally certain his revitalised and resurgent Swiss star (above) will relish the chance to demonstrate his loyalty and ability to an appreciative live audience.

Before Covid-19, Xhaka was dividing opinion among the Emirates faithful.

His infamous clash with the home fans when subbed against Crystal Palace in October had many wondering if he had a future at the club.

But it has become obvious since the restart that Xhaka, 27, is a vital part of the Spaniard’s new-look Gunners.

Certainly, Arteta is confident that whatever problems existed between the fans and Xhaka will have been long forgotten when next season starts.

The Spaniard, whose side host Watford this afternoon before facing Chelsea in next Saturday’s FA Cup final, said: “Absolutely. It will be great for the fans and for him.

“When you’re on the pitch and you feel you have the fans supporting you and you feel their love, it’s immense the amount of energy and drive that produces in a football player.

“Granit is a player that when he commits, he goes 100 per cent. He’s worked really hard and has won everybody’s trust again.

”Hopefully, he can now enjoy that when the fans are back in our stadium.

“I had a very high opinion of him and knew him really well when I arrived.

“I had to convince him he had a future here, could enjoy his career and his family could be happy too.

“He’s started to enjoy it again and when you have those aspects, players perform at the highest level.”