Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has dropped a massive hint over the future of his manager Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has been constantly linked with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG, who have been impressed by his work at Arsenal, transforming them from mid-table strugglers to title challengers this season.
However, it was intriguing to see Granit Xhaka deliver an update on Arteta’s future, since the midfielder himself is on the verge of leaving Arsenal this summer. The Gunners are apparently going to address the elephant in the room this summer, with Xhaka’s long impending exit to take place at the end of the season.
Leverkusen-linked Granit Xhaka insists Arteta the ‘right manager’ for Arsenal
Granit Xhaka shut off critics when asked if manager Mikel Arteta can lead the Gunners to glory. The midfield enforcer said that while the club’s objective had been partially met, despite the fact that they had ultimately failed on a title chase that finally went against them.
When the Gunners fell 1-0 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, their chances of winning the Premier League were over as Manchester City went on to win the league for the fifth time in six years. Nonetheless, Arteta’s team has received praise for their growth this season despite their late surrender. And when asked if he believed Arteta should direct the pursuit of City, Granit Xhaka responded:
“You can forget this question – he is more than the right manager for this team. We don’t need to forget how we work for the last 11 months.”
Arsenal led the league for 248 days of the season and held an eight-point advantage over City in March. However, Arsenal has struggled mightily in their previous eight games—winning just twice, and dropping points on six occasions, all but ending their title hopes. But Granit Xhaka has insisted that this campaign must serve as a model for future success. He added:
“Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course the people see what happens now, but don’t forget the 11 months we worked. If someone told us before the season that we will be here, I think everyone would sign it.
“Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course when you are so close to the title you want to win the title. But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.”
After having his most productive season for the team since coming in 2016, the Swiss midfielder, who has previously been linked with a transfer away from the Emirates, is ready to take on a new challenge. Alongside Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka has thrived while playing with greater freedom.
The midfielder will reportedly return to the Bundesliga, where he previously played for Borussia Monchengladbach, with Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports. Arsenal would thus be forced to seek out extra help in the middle of the pitch, but Arteta has already started to prepare, with the likes of Declan Rice, Mason Mount and Ilkay Gundogan on the Gunners’ radars.