Granit Xhaka has revealed he would have left Arsenal last summer had it not been for an intervention from Mikel Arteta and the club's technical director Edu.
The Swiss midfielder is something of a divisive figure in north London having experienced a turbulent journey with the Gunners since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016. The 29-year-old has produced some moments of magic in an Arsenal shirt, but at times, his ill-discipline and fiery demeanour has seen him clash with the club's fanbase.
The biggest flashpoint in Xhaka's Arsenal career arguably came back in October 2019 when the midfielder angrily reacted to the club's fans who him jeered after he was substituted in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The writing then appeared to be on the wall for the Switzerland captain last summer, however the Gunners' enforcer has admitted Arteta and Edu convinced him to remain at the Emirates amid intense interest from elsewhere.
"Without him [Arteta], I would not be here in this football club anymore," Xhaka told ESPN while opening up on his admiration for the Arsenal boss. "He helped me a lot when I was completely down.
"He took me aside, helped me with small things, step by step, tactically, as a person, mentality, between the team and the club, tried to help me as well with the fans. He is a freak in a positive way.
"Tactically, he knows everything. How he prepares the team before training, before the games, is unbelievable. I had a lot of coaches, but I have to put Mikel as one of the top ones in my career."
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Despite the pair's strong bond, Xhaka went on to reveal he came mightily close to leaving Arsenal for Jose Mourinho 's Roma in May of 2021. Had it no been for the intervention of Arteta and Edu, the midfielder admits he would have moved on.
"It was something, yes," Xhaka confirmed when probed over suggestions he was on the verge of joining Mourinho's men 12 months ago. "Very close. Mikel was the guy with [technical director] Edu, they didn't let me go because they wanted to keep me here.
"Of course, my first reaction was to stay at the football club, but they opened the door: 'If something comes, I can leave.' I have to be honest as well. I don't want to say a name now, but the door was open for me to leave the club as well. But in the end, people decided to keep me here."
Xhaka went on to make 30 appearances across all competitions under Arteta last season, netting one goal - a long-range rocket in a 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Emirates. The midfielder appears full of optimism ahead of the upcoming campaign too as he piled praise on new Gunners signings Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira.
Speaking on Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States, Xhaka explained to Sky Sports: "They are bringing something more than just games and wins, they are bringing the mentality of winning something - that is what we need here. It is not so easy only to speak but to show it on the pitch as well, both they bring the experience.
"Of course, Gabi knows the Premier League. I think he won everything, or nearly everything but the most important thing is to bring the players that have the hunger as well because you can win a lot of trophies that's enough, but these guys want to win much more and in with us which makes us very happy to have them."
