Mikel Arteta hails one Arsenal player’s ‘excellent’ display yesterday, he’s a ‘big presence’

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Granit Xhaka after his impressive display for the Gunners in Thursday’s Premier League 2-0 victory at Southampton.

The Swiss midfielder made his return to the Arsenal starting XI following his swift recovery from injury and the Gunners midfield was much stronger with him back.

Xhaka made some great long-range passes and travelled well with the ball, the midfield’s movement and control much improved from their previous game, away at Brighton.

When asked by Football London after the Saints game whether Arsenal miss Xhaka when he’s absent, Arteta replied: “He’s a big presence.

“He’s someone that doesn’t hide, he has very clear principles and values and he puts that on the pitch every time he’s there and he’s come in and he’s excellent.

“I think he sets a really good example for the rest but I don’t like to use [single out] any individual.

“I think today the starters, the subs and the players I didn’t use were all with the right energy, right commitment and right intention every time they jumped in the pitch.”

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The former club captain may have copped a fair bit criticism this season and continues to split opinion amongst the fanbase, but it cannot be denied that Arsenal simply aren’t as good without him in their line-up.

The way Xhaka keeps Arsenal’s play balanced at the back and confidently carries the ball forward makes a huge difference, and without him in the XI – as seen in most of the Manchester City game and the Brighton match – the Gunners are weaker.