Granit Xhaka says life at Arsenal is ‘good’, ‘nice’ and ‘fun’…three adjectives we’d like to think we’d use* if we were ever to pull on the red and white at the Emirates.
The Swiss has featured 18 times for the Gunners so far this season, scored three goals and twice played against his brother, Taulant, in two victories over former club Basel.
Speaking after the latest win, a 4-1 drubbing at St Jakob Park that helped Arsene Wenger’s men to top spot in Champions League Group A, Xhaka was in a chipper mood.
“It’s a good experience, a nice experience,” he told Arsenal Player of his time as a Gunner.
“Arsenal is a very big club and it’s so much fun to play alongside my team-mates. I’m really happy here.
“I came home after five years. Here at Basel is where I made my first professional steps, I came up and grew up through the FC Basel school.
“Tonight I played against my brother for the third time [too], and it’s always special to play against him.”
Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi admits he’s pleased to break his scoring duck this season after netting Arsenal’s fourth against Basel.
The Nigerian couldn’t really miss following Mesut Ozil’s fine assist and he was happy for the German to take the plaudits.
“It’s been a good night. I wouldn’t say my goal was a cracker but it was a great assist by Mesut.
“It’s felt like a long time coming and it’s always a great feeling to score a goal, but I’m just pleased with the team¹s performance and that we were able to finish top of the group.
“Having a second leg at home is a big advantage [in the knockout stage] and it gives you the belief that you can do it. However, the Champions League is full of top teams.”
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*for the record Arseblog News would also be tempted to pepper interviews with ‘super’, ‘smashing’, ‘lush’ and ‘tidy’. If that sounds tempting Arsene, give us a call.
I notice that Granit Xhaka is quite a big hugger. All top quality teams needs a big hugger.
None of those adjectives have the Arsenal-ness that “Top, Top Quality” has.
Up the Arsenal
Mental strength, mind of steel, thinking very hard about winning … I could go on for a long time ..
Up the mind games!
Great resilience, good mental strength, strong character, top top quality, playing with belief… with the handbrake off. Lovely.
He is what we needed for years aggression ..good passer ..no nonsense player only going to better and become a legend
I doubt whether his brother has found it quite so special playing against Granit.
He’s a fucking great player, we’ve robbed them getting him for 35 or whatever it was. Just a shame we didn’t get someone of his ilk many years earlier
While Iwobi’s goal was an easy tap in, the 80 yard run he made to get into position for it showed great desire, fluidity and athleticism.
35m early panic buy. Clearly Wenger is clueless. He’s brought in to provide back up in defensive midfield but also to add threat as a deep lying playmaker able to release our speedy assets quicker. I mentioned we missed Santi last season. Many prattled on about Rambo-Flamini but in truth they held firm for us over a very difficult period when we were shorn of our best assets through Xmas and into Feb. They presided over important wins against City and Olympiakos. The goals for us started to dry up in fact when we started to get our better assets… Read more »
Really like what I’ve seen of Xhaka
It’s like getting a shiny new toy 🙂
I know I will need my tin hat … but but I cant see Iwobi making himself unpickable ( if thats how you spell it ) .. tries hard .. runs a lot .. full of enthusiasm ..but that touch of his makes his life hard
surely if Blogs was to play for Arsenal, he would say “it’s f*cking excellent”