Back in August, Granit Xhaka revealed how it had been Mikel Arteta, recently appointed as the club’s new head coach, who persuaded him to stay at Arsenal in December 2019.
Then, Xhaka was public enemy No.1 at the Emirates, his career in North London looking set to end after the then-club captain told his own supporters of “f*** off” while being jeered as he was substituted against Crystal Palace in October.
Unai Emery defended Xhaka in public, but banished the Swiss international from first-team training in a bid to quell growing unrest on the terraces.
Ultimately, the Spaniard was shown the door 12 months ago, sacked by the club’s hierarchy despite having reached the Europa League Final just seven months previously.
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