When reports surfaced that Granit Xhaka would be leaving Arsenal in the summer, it was widely believed that his wife played a significant role in the decision to move back to Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite enjoying arguably his best season in the colours of Arsenal, with fans excited about the Gunners’ future with him, Xhaka was drawn to the challenge presented by Xabi Alonso to become the midfield lynchpin at Leverkusen.
Surprisingly, Xhaka revealed that his wife was initially against the idea of leaving the Emirates. Despite this initial hesitation, the Swiss midfielder has become a crucial member of the Bayer Leverkusen team, contributing to their pursuit of a potential Bundesliga title this season.
Xhaka said to Blick:
“Many accused me of taking a step backwards. But I never saw it that way.
“I had seven wonderful years in London, but I felt like I needed a new challenge, even though I still had a contract. There were people who were against it, but it was clear to me that I would do it.
“My wife was initially against it. It was written that she was the reason why I wanted to come back to Germany, but that wasn’t the case.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
It would have been great to keep Xhaka, but since he left, we have moved on well and signed some talented midfielders who are keeping us competitive.
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That song lyric “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” comes to mind.
As with Havertz, the need for a scapegoat has ALWAYS been a trend with Arsenal fans (not supporters) and I go back many years – David Price, Jon Samnels and Alan Skirt on are my early memories.
I’m just happy that Xhaka is proving all the so called experts wrong, especially the one who volunteered to pay his taxi fare to Heathrow airport if he promised to leave.
Ken I see Xhakas whole time here, seven years I believe, rather differently from you. Yes I know that will come as a great surprise, (he added , ironically!!)
It was widely accepted among our fanbase that for his first fiveyears he underperforned and esp his hot headedness when tackling and getting involved in disputes , leading to red cards and us being down to ten men , was UNPOPULAR witth our fanbase at large.
HOWEVER, for his last two seasons and esp his very last one, he matured ans he became a valuable player much misewde still by many changed and became someone the fans , me too, began to admire and relish being here.
But two good years can only ever, and then only PARTLY, change perception about his WHOLE time here.
I could and would use the precsie analogy about Ozil but in reverse time periods
Ozil had undoubtedly sublime talent but lacked character big time and was an idle player whose attitudefor years after that first great spell, refused to give his utmost.
You and a few other will still NOT accept that , but I warrant that MOST fair minded Gooners will agree with me on Ozil.
Neither he nor Xhaka could be called a anything but a very limited asset,, timewise,as a success, when taken as a whole during their time here
In our huistory we are spoilt for choice of so very many players who gave their utmost all the time, who largely kept out of trouble, avoided confrontations and avoided red cards.
Both Ozil ans Xhaks for entirely different reasons came or left with baggage.
For me, Xhaka I will always respect as a man and someone who grew up while with us. For Ozil though, I can find no forgiveness for regularly choosing not to give his all in every game.,after his initial first great spell faded away to very little regular effectiveness therafter.
No honest person could EVER accuse Xhaka of not giving HIS all though and as the future years roll by, THAT attitude of both players is what I will MOST REMEMBER.
One with a degree, just a degree, of admiration , but the other with deep distaste.
A good reason to take some reports with a pinch of salt
Jon, imagine if the fanbase got behind Xhaka and recognised that this international player was struggling at times to play the way he was asked to do.
Why do you think that two very experiences managers like AW and UE had faith in him and why MA made it his first priority to persuade Xhaka to stay at the club?
You put a lot of faith in what the fans want, while ignoring the opinions of these three managers, who happened to work with Xhaka every day, while said fans were judging him on 90 minutes – not knowing what he was asked to do.
The same goes for Havertz – you were on his vack before he even signed for the club and yet, you are now seeing just what MA saw in him.
I will never understand why players are judged even before they have kicked a ball with regards to some of our fanbase and if you REALLY think that said fanbase knows more about football than AW, UE and MA, then so be it.
I might add that the same goes for Mesut Ozil, who’s record as a successful player obliterates ANY current players CV that we currently have on our books.
A realist would understand that NO footballer would survive the PL if he was lazy, idle, not fit, a troublemaker or below par after just a season.
Polar philosophies on Ozil, KEN
You have never, not even once, said you ever recognised that OZIL WAS LAZY.
. I REFUSE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE VIEWS OF ANYONE WHO WAS, AND STILL REMAINS, SO VERY WILFULLY “BLIND!
As a person who passionately believes the moral contract that all players “sign” when they actually sign a contract, IS and OUGHT to be to give their UTMOST in every game they ever play, I will never accept laziness and will never accept as being honest, those who claim not to ever see laziness. It is way beyond obvious!
To be fair to Xhaka, HE at least, DID always give his all.
Yet you still berated him Jon at every opportunity..
No, like AW, UE and MA, I didn’t think Ozil was lazy – you were interpreting his body language as such.
One doesn’t win everything he has if he was lazy – as a realist you should understand that simple FACT.
KEN as you still refuse to admit, even to yourself, that Ozil was lazy, this pointless debate ends , at least on my part, here and now!
I am tempted though, in view of your continued wilful “blindness”, to write a JA article asking ALL Gooners this question: Do you think Ozil was lazy? Yes or no.
His inate talent has never been in doubt, I suggest, by ANY GOONER AT ALL.
But his talent is NOT my point;his laziness IS!
But YOU refuse to admit that AW, UE and MA all selected him and we won the fa cup with him.
Hthingsow can you, a self proclaimed realist, not see the most SIMPLEST of things – that being, of course, that no player can win a world cup medal, numerous international caps, the title of most provider of chances in the PL, the Bundesliga, the La Liga and the world cup itself…. let alone the league medals, cup medals, Player of the Year and Player of the month… the list goes on and on.
But you call him lazy!!!
. So, tell me Jon, how many players have got THAT kind of CV in their locker?
The names you’ll come up with, will tell you what kind of class player he was and I don’t care what poll you want to do, as the last one carried out on JA was in favour of Ozil – have you forgotten that?
Your dismissal of players has carried on as long as I’ve been on JA – be it Ozil, Xhaka and now Havertz and the could mention so many others.
So your villification of individual players doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, it’s just part of your nature to do so.