Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has praised Granit Xhaka after his excellent form this season.
The Swiss international has arguably been the most improved player in the Premier League with some eye-catching displays from midfield for Mikel Arteta’s side, as not long ago it seemed his future would surely be far from Emirates Stadium.
In particular, Xhaka got into a fight with Arsenal fans when he was booed on the pitch and he responded with a gesture in a game against Crystal Palace a few years ago.
At the time, Xhaka was stripped of the captaincy and there seemed to be no turning back at Arsenal, but now he is showing his best form in the red and white shirt.
Petit is very impressed with the way Xhaka has turned things around for himself and has praised the 30-year-old for looking like the symbol of the club with Arteta.
Petit exclusively told Ladbrokes: Fanzone: “He (Arteta) also completely transformed a lot of players. The first name that comes to mind is Granit Xhaka. He is a survivor. The difference in him compared to where he was a couple of years ago; It is night and day, it is ice and fire. For me, it is the definition of what it takes to be an athlete.
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“You have to be a fighter, you have to be a warrior, sometimes against opponents, but also against teammates and coaches, the press, the fans, sometimes you are in a really negative environment and it can be a real test of your mentality. . .
“This guy had both his knees on the ground, his head down and his time at the club seemed to be over. The way he bounced back from that and the way he almost reinvented his game, for me he is the symbol of Arsenal Football Club under Mikel Arteta”.
