Granit Xhaka posts Arsenal farewell message

PREMIER LEAGUE Granit Xhaka posts Arsenal farewell message

Mark Kinyanjui 12:45 - 28.05.2023

It is widely expected he will be joining Bayer Leverkursen this summer.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has appeared to send a farewell message to the Arsenal supporters ahead of the final day clash against Wolves.

Bayer Leverkusen are said to be in advanced talks to sign the midfielder in a £13million deal this summer after seven years at Emirates Stadium.

In his post on Instagram, he is quoted as saying “thank you Gunners” and it is also noted down “2X FA Cup (winner).

When Arteta took over in December 2019, Xhaka was on the verge of leaving after a high-profile falling-out with the Emirates support that meant he was dropped and stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery.

The turnaround has been remarkable and the Switzerland international has played with particular freedom this season, often operating in a more advanced role for the Premier League runners-up.

Arteta hailed his value to the team and said Arsenal had learned from the controversy of three and a half years ago.

“For me, crucial,” he said when asked about Xhaka’s importance. “Really, really important on every level, for the team and for the club as well. In the great moments like the season he has had, and in the difficult ones.

“We have become a better club and better people and we have understood certain situations much better than just judging them. The club and a lot of people have done really well to dig in there and understand what happened emotionally and why those reactions were happening.

"And having the courage to say: ‘OK, let’s turn around the situation and face it.’ There are going to be moments of doubt but if you believe in what you are doing and you go face-to-face and say what you feel, normally things work out pretty well.”

Should Xhaka play against Wolves, it will be his 297th appearance in a Gunners shirt. Arsenal have a chance to finish the season on 84 points, their highest tally since 2004.

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