‘I’m so pleased’: Ian Wright says he’s so delighted that Arsenal didn’t just sell £100k-a-week player now

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright is delighted that Granit Xhaka is still at the club after his resurgence this season.

Speaking on Wrighty’s House, the former Arsenal forward spoke about Xhaka’s start to the campaign.

Xhaka was on the score sheet at the weekend in Arsenal’s north London derby win against Tottenham.

Wright has previously said he’s been so impressed with Xhaka this season, and is delighted with his current form.

Despite no longer being captain at Arsenal, Xhaka is still a leader at the club.

Speaking to The Times, Gabriel Martinelli shared what he was telling players in a huddle during Saturday’s game.

It could have been very different for Xhaka, who Arteta was weighing up selling in the summer.

However, Wright is delighted that Xhaka stuck around, and can continue to improve his status at Arsenal.

Wright: ‘I’m really pleased for him’

Arteta is no longer playing Xhaka in a defensive role in Arsenal’s midfield, and it’s benefited everybody.

The £100,000-per-week midfielder is playing in a more advanced role, supporting Arsenal’s attackers.

This has relieved a lot of the pressure on Xhaka to break up opposition attacks, an aspect of his game that frequently got him into trouble.

Wright is delighted that Xhaka stuck around, and didn’t decide to leave last year.

“When you look at how many managers have kept him in there, all those managers can’t be wrong.” Wright said.

“When you look at him as an individual player, his left foot is magnificent.

“He hasn’t got great pace, he won’t beat people with the ball in respect of skills.

“He’s getting the ball in positions where he can get it into the players that can make the difference, or he can have a shot.

“I’m so pleased that he’s stayed there long enough, because if he left last year, we would have said, ‘what would the Granit Xhaka tenure have been?’

“It comes down to, like I say, he’s playing in a position where (it suits him).

“I’m really pleased for him.”