Arsenal’s failure to win the Premier League last season is still something on Granit Xhaka’s mind.
The midfielder, who joined Bayer Leverkusen in a €15m move last summer, is now one of the reasons why they’re on top of the Bundesliga table and close to winning the title.
Now as Xhaka was interviewed by ESPN Germany, with quotes brought by Bild, he recalls what happened to Arsenal, and makes it clear his new club should be careful about the end of the season.
“A ten-point lead is good, we can be proud of that, but nothing has been won yet. I’m speaking from my own experience from last season. It was a similar score, but in the end we didn’t win the league,” said Xhaka.
“I know that experience and I talk about it in the dressing room. Of course, ten points is a lot in football when you have ten games, but there are still another 30 points to get. It’s not over yet.
“I try to explain it to them, but you can’t describe it in words – you have to feel it. That’s why I say: let’s stay humble and work day in, day out – just like we’ve done all season.”
Xhaka is getting a lot of praise for his campaign with Bayer, and Bild now point out that he was ‘once again the boss on the pitch’ in the 2-0 win against Koln.
Since leaving Arsenal for the German side, the midfielder has made 32 appearances, and started in every single game, which is putting the Leverkusen side in such a favourable position.
With the 10-point difference over Bayern Munich, they just need an extra push to guarantee the title, but Xhaka’s old Arsenal traumas are certainly keeping him focused.
