Stan Collymore says Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal turnaround has been brilliant

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Stan Collymore has labelled Granit Xhaka‘s Arsenal turnaround ‘brilliant’ and told the Sunday People (9/10; page 62) that the midfielder and Mikel Arteta both deserve credit for that.

Xhaka has been one of the stars of the Premier League season so far. He has played a pivotal role in guiding Arsenal to the top of the table. And they will return to the summit with a win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Of course, it has been a very, very long road for Xhaka. Few will forget when he let his anger get the better of him against Crystal Palace in 2019. After that, it appeared inevitable that he would leave at the earliest opportunity.

Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal turnaround has been brilliant

Arteta however, quickly made Xhaka a key part of his plans following his appointment. And that faith has really paid off in the last 12 months.

The Swiss has been outstanding, particularly at the start of this campaign. And Collymore admitted that he has been hugely impressed by the impact the 30-year-old has had in the Gunners’ fortunes – suggesting it would have been easy for Arteta to move him on quickly.

“The way Granit Xhaka has turned things round at Arsenal is brilliant and I take my hat off to both the player and his manager Mikel Arteta for that,” he told the Sunday People (9/10; page 62).

“Arteta clearly watched training and thought, ‘We need physical strength in the team and I need a character in the dressing room, someone who will police the squad on my behalf’.

“Not only did he acknowledge Xhaka would do that, but he also played him in a position slightly further forward that suited him.

“So credit where it is due – to both of them.”

It is hard not to praise Xhaka at the minute. But Collymore’s comments about Arteta are particularly interesting.

He has not been afraid to criticise the Spaniard in the past. In fact, he told the Sunday People last season that Patrick Vieira would get more out of the Arsenal squad than Arteta has.

He then claimed to the same publication that the gap between Antonio Conte and the Arsenal boss is huge.

In fairness, there is no comparison between the two in terms of what they have won. But Arteta is right at the start of his managerial career. So that is not entirely fair to put the two in the same bracket anyway.

What is clear is that Arsenal have taken another giant step forward this season. And should they beat Liverpool on Sunday, plenty more pundits will be eating some humble pie when it comes to the Gunners.