August 16, (THEWILL) –Â Switzerland international Granit Xhaka will no longer be leaving north London English Premier League side Arsenal after accepting an extension of his contract with the Gunners until the summer of 2024, at the very least.
Xhaka appeared on the verge of linking up with Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho in Serie A earlier this summer, with Roma interested in adding him to the project Mourinho is crafting at their club. However, before the finalisation of that process, the Emirates club convinced the midfielder to stay.
Arsenal moved swiftly to activate an option that keeps him at the Emirates for another season as Xhaka’s previous deal would have run out in 2023. The quick business from Edu, Arsenal’s Technical Director and the management saw to the extension for a further year.
Having guaranteed his future, 28-year-old lead Arsenal’s charge in the opening day 2-0 loss against EPL newcomers Brentford as captain and it was a game that highlighted many of the flaws in the side that was behind the thinking of those who believed Xhaka was ready to leave.
There was no recognisable game plan from the technical bench in that disappointing loss and Brentford only needed so few openings to capitalise and record a dream return to the EPL after 74 years. Xhaka was one of the manageable parts of the Gunners performance on the night.
The extension will mean Xhaka will come to terms with being part of the growth that must now take place quickly if Arsenal’s season does not immediately go from bad to get worse with their next two matches against UEFA Champions League and Super Cup winners, Chelsea, and against EPL champions Manchester City, back-to-back.
The midfielder who had a major falling-out with some of Arsenal’s fans in late 2019 and, who almost left as a result to join the Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, was convinced to stay at the Emirates Stadium by current manager Mikel Arteta. He trusts in the project of Arteta and has to now show that with results better than that 2-0 loss.
Xhaka has the capacity to do this as exemplified by his impressive displays at this summer’s continental Championship for Switzerland. He consistently played a key role as they progressed all the way to the quarter-final stage. He particularly shone in the last-16 game against France and Arsenal will be hoping for that level of commitment in the season and beyond.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
