‘I was convinced’: BBC pundit stunned £30m player hasn’t left Arsenal yet, thought he was going to ‘walk out’

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BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has put Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka in his Premier League team of the week.

Xhaka scored on Saturday as the Gunners ran out 4-2 winners against Leicester at the Emirates Stadium in their first home match of the season.

The Swiss international has had his fair share of criticism and controversy during his time at Arsenal, and that is something Crooks discussed in his column.

He thought Xhaka would have left Arsenal by now and the midfielder has admitted that Mikel Arteta is the only reason he hasn’t.

Crooks thought Xhaka would leave Arsenal

He wrote: “There can only be a handful of Arsenal players who I have thought should have been sold or relieved of their duties – Xhaka was one.

“I have seen this player sent off, dragged off and booed off – in some cases all in one game.

“At one stage I was convinced he would walk out of the football club of his own volition. Yet, for all his misgivings, the former captain remains faithful to the Gunners and the Arsenal fans are to him.

“His performance against Leicester was impressive and while his goal was fortunate I cannot fault his determination or his passion.”

The £30million man has had competition for his starting berth at the heart of the Gunners midfield but Arteta retains great faith in him.

He has responded with a goal at the weekend and two strong performances to start the season as the Gunners have won both matches.

Long may it continue from an Arsenal perspective, although the real test will come in the clashes with the big clubs later this season.