Mikel Arteta has praised Granit Xhaka for baring his soul after the “pure hate” he had to absorb from Arsenal supporters, saying: “I'm glad he didn't run away.”
The former Gunners captain spoke out earlier this week about the way he was hounded after a red card against Crystal Palace brought his relationship with fans to breaking point in late 2019. Xhaka admitted: "When I close my eyes now, I can still see their faces. I can see their anger. The passports were out. I was done with Arsenal. Finished. It was not just a few guys in the corner – it was a lot of people, Pure hate.”
One of Arteta's first jobs when he arrived at the Emirates was to assess the fractured relationship between the Swiss midfielder and the Arsenal fan base. He decided to administer sticking plasters – and although Xhaka has collected five red cards in six years, Arteta is relieved they managed to call a truce.
