‘No chance’: £100,000-a-week star says he’s going to stay at Arsenal, nobody can force him out

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has claimed that no amount of criticism or abuse will make him want to leave the club.

The Swiss international joined the Gunners in the summer of 2016 and has been a mainstay. Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta have all trusted him in the middle of the park, but nobody in the Premier League gets as much criticism as him.

Xhaka’s outburst against Crystal Palace in 2019 made things worse for him and it really looked like he’d leave Arsenal. The £100,000-a-week Swissman was linked with Roma last summer, but that move didn’t materialise either.

The 29-year-old sat down for a fantastic interview this week to discuss all the hate and abuse he has received. However, he has vowed that he’s going to stay at Arsenal no matter what and the only person who can make him want to leave is himself.

• ‘Tremendous’ player has just made the exact same claim as Emile Smith Rowe, Arsenal fans should be buzzing – TBR View

Granit Xhaka: Critics will not force me out of Arsenal

Xhaka told the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust: “I say always [to] myself, ‘The only one who can stop me is myself’. Of course, injuries and things like that can stop you as well, but nobody can stop me, not the people outside.

“This is why in my head I am so strong. I say that always [to] myself as well, I decide when I leave, nobody else, not the fans, not the people. When I am not ready, I will leave.

“As long as I am ready and I feel good, and I feel I can help the team, I will be here. But because of the people? Because of a bad message?

“Because of the bad stuff they are doing, speaking and writing? No chance!”

• ‘Did it publicly’: Mikel Arteta says ‘fantastic’ Arsenal player did something ‘really rare’

TBR View:

Whatever your opinion is of Granit Xhaka at Arsenal, you have got to admire his mentality.

Only a handful of footballers can come back from what happened to him at the Emirates against Crystal Palace. He didn’t just come back, but he has also become one of the most important players at the club now and has barely put a foot wrong in Arsenal’s last few games.

Rumours continue to link Xhaka with a move to Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma. The summer transfer window is only a few months away and it will be interesting to see if the Swiss international will stay at Arsenal for next season.

Xhaka’s current contract at Arsenal expires in the summer of 2024.

• ‘The best I’ve seen in my career’: President blown away by Arsenal loanee who has never played under Arteta