‘Nobody talks about that’… Mikel Arteta notes what Granit Xhaka did at Arsenal last season

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has noted what Granit Xhaka used to do for the Gunners.

Arteta has said that people forget how important Xhaka was during matches and remember just the occasions when he got dismissed.

So, what has Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said about Granit Xhaka? Let’s take a look.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta comments on Granit Xhaka

Well, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Granit Xhaka ahead of the match against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Arsenal will be determined to win the Premier League game, and Arteta is aware of how hard it is going to beat to pick up all three points at Anfield.

Arteta has noted how Xhaka used to manage matches, adding that people tend to forget the impact that he made and only remember the times when he got sent off.

Xhaka was on the books of Arsenal from 2016 until the summer of 2023 when he moved to Bayer Leverkusen. He scored 17 goals and gave 24 assists in 225 Premier League games. The midfielder got 57 yellow cards and four red cards.

Arteta told Arsenal’s official website when asked how he will manage the squad’s state of mind after Granit Xhaka’s approach last season: “[We will need to manage] All the games, but Granit Xhaka did that in many games and we won, and then nobody talks about that. 

“So, it’s a little bit sometimes too simplistic, there are certain things, obviously that we have to manage very well in big games, and the emotional state is something that is crucial when you’re playing against big opponents away [from home].”

Arsenal have moved on from Granit Xhaka

In my view, Arsenal have moved on from Granit Xhaka. I do not think that the Gunners are missing the Switzerland international midfielder.

There were occasions when Xhaka got rash and made silly tackles and challenges that got him sent off. The 31-year-old was a liability at times.

But, we have to remember that Xhaka was the best that Arsenal had. Despite some of his antics, he was, and still is, a very good player. However, I have to say that the Gunners were not at the level that they are now with Declan Rice in central midfield.

Kai Havertz has gone to the left of the midfield and seems to be a replacement for Xhaka. They are different players, of course. 

The Germany international is more attack-minded, and he is certainly not as hot-headed as the 31-year-old. He is younger, too.