Speaking on TalkSport, Danny Murphy has heaped praise on Granit Xhaka for not running away from adversity when he has had to face them in his Arsenal career over the last five years.
The Swiss international has had a lot to deal with since joining the club. Right from the highs of scoring long-range bangers and winning FA Cups to the lows of being booed by his own supporters and being stripped of his captaincy, he has gone through it all in an Arsenal shirt.
However, the one thing he has never done is run away. He always steps up when things aren’t going his way and the way he has come back from what happened in the game against Crystal Palace two years ago tells you everything you need to know about his elute mentality.
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TalkSport pundit: Granit Xhaka deserves huge credit
Danny Murphy was asked about Xhaka on TalkSport yesterday and the former Liverpool man admitted he wasn’t a big fan of the midfielder. However, he was quick to shower praise on the Arsenal man’s mentality.
He said: “I’ve never been his (Xhaka’s) biggest fan, I have to say. I don’t think, at times, his manager used to help him. I don’t mean Arteta, but before (under Wenger and Emery), when he used to play on his own in the holding role when he’s got a lack of athleticism.
“I’ve to say, since those incidents you’re talking about (outburst against Crystal Palace), the character he has shown to come back and also come back fitter, more determined, more disciplined, he deserves great credit. It’s nice to see that someone doesn’t jump ship when things aren’t going so well.”
The Insider’s View:
The sad thing for Granit Xhaka is that he will never get the credit he deserves from a section of Arsenal fans due to their agenda against him.
However, the good thing is that he is appreciated by every manager he has ever played under. Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta all love him, as does Jose Mourinho, who tried ever so hard to sign him this summer.
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Xhaka is set to extend his stay at the Emirates. He’s not perfect, he will surely make a few mistakes in the coming years, but the one thing nobody can deny is that he will give his all every day to help Arsenal succeed.
