Michael Dawson praises Granit Xhaka for turning things around at Arsenal

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Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson has hailed Arsenal star Granit Xhaka for the way he has turned his career around after what happened at the Emirates three years ago.

There probably isn’t another player in the Premier League who has divided opinion as much as the Swiss international. He has gone from being criticised by almost everyone in football to now being praised by those very people every week.

The turnaround has been incredible and Dawson is impressed.

Michael Dawson praises Granit Xhaka for turning things around at Arsenal

Almost three years ago to this day, Xhaka had a huge outburst against Arsenal supporters while he was being substituted in a game against Crystal Palace.

He was booed as he walked off, and that led to an angry reaction from the Swiss skipper.

Everybody, including Xhaka himself, believed at that point that his Arsenal career was done. He was expected to leave the club in January, but Mikel Arteta put a stop to that and helped him change everything.

Now, Xhaka is one of Arsenal’s best players and his turnaround is definitely something that not many players are capable of pulling off.

Dawson told Sky Sports today: “Xhaka, he has broad shoulders.

“What he went through – yes it was down to his own doing – but wow! To come back from that, not many players do that. Mikel Arteta, giving him the opportunity to turn that around, that’s a credit.

“A lot of people were calling for him to never play for the club again.”

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Both Arteta and Xhaka deserve immense credit for the incredible turnaround.

If it wasn’t for the Gunners boss, the £100,000-a-week (Sportrac) midfielder would be long gone. He would only be remembered by Arsenal fans for what happened in that game against Crystal Palace and nothing else, which would’ve been a real shame.

If Xhaka leaves at the end of his contract in 2024, he will do so with his head held high and with the full support of almost every Arsenal supporter.

That really is a sensational turnaround.