Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has admitted he’s undergone a ‘restart’ under new manager Mikel Arteta.
The Swiss midfielder looked destined to leave the club in the January transfer window after falling out of favour with the club’s supporters earlier in the season.
He had been stripped of the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery after an angry outburst at the club’s fans when he was booed off the pitch during a clash with Crystal Palace.
That incident caused a wave of anger and resentment towards the midfielder, who admits the ‘hatred’ he experienced ‘was brand new’ and hit him ‘twice as hard’.
He was subsequently offered the chance to leave for Hertha Berlin and admits there was ‘contact and an offer’ from the Germans.
However, he turned down the chance and insists he’s now hit the reset button under Arteta’s leadership.
“I think I have had a very good relationship and very good contact with all the coaches here at Arsenal,” he told Sport 1.
“Everyone has their own character, their own philosophy and also their own way of addressing. With Mikel, however, something like a restart actually started for me.
“I had very good conversations with him right from the start, in which he showed me what he expected of me, how much he needed me in the team and how he valued me as a player. It was very motivating and convincing for me.
“He is absolutely professional, pays great attention to discipline, team spirit, is open and direct in communication. I am convinced that we still have a lot of fun with him.”
That incident earlier this season was just the latest low point in a period at Arsenal that has not exactly been a shining one for Xhaka.
The midfielder arrived in a big-money move from Borussia Monchengladbach four years ago, with many hoping he was the defensive midfielder they had long been crying out for.
That did not prove to be the case, though, with Xhaka often coming in for criticism for his performances under both Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery.
He, though, believes his time at the club so far has been a mostly successful one, saying his four years in London have been ‘great’.
“For me, the review so far has been very positive. After a somewhat difficult start, I played a lot, and overall it was a great time at Arsenal,” he added.
“Clearly there were ups and downs in the four years, and unfortunately we have not reached the Champions League goal for three years.
“But who knows, maybe we’ll make it this year because I think a club like Arsenal definitely belongs there.
“In addition, I was able to work with various top coaches and get to know a wide variety of game philosophies, which brought me very forward. So far, it has been four great years in London.”
