Granit Xhaka fully believes that Mikel Arteta is the ‘right manager’ to lead Arsenal to greatness. The Gunners had topped the Premier League table ahead of Manchester City for so long this season, but their title challenge came to an end on Saturday following defeat at Nottingham Forest, with City lifting the trophy on Sunday. Questions have been raised over whether Arsenal can pick themselves back up and challenge for the title again next season, but Xhaka thinks it can happen.
He said: ‘We played a great season but we have to keep going, we have to take the next step because it will be much more difficult next season than this season. We know that. It is easy to say now where [losing the title] happened. I mean, we know maybe the West Ham and Southampton game killed us a little bit. But still, the other games we had everything in our hands. Of course, there was the Man City game where we lost, but still after that I think we need to try and we need to keep [winning] as long as possible to be there, but we didn’t. Against Brighton we lost clearly. [Against Forest] as well it was a very difficult game.’
When asked whether Arteta is the right man to lead the club, Xhaka defended his manager, saying: ‘You can forget this question – he is more than the right manager for this team. We don’t need to forget how we worked for 11 months. Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course the people see what happens now, but don’t forget the 11 months we worked. If someone told us before the season that we will be here, I think everyone would have signed it. Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course when you are so close to the title, you want to win the title. But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.’
Xhaka also acknowledged that it was a ‘sad day’ for Arsenal and their fans, but urged them to look forward and enjoy their last game of the season at home against Wolves. Xhaka has been linked with leaving the Emirates this summer, which could mean that Sunday’s season finale could be his last outing for Arsenal.