TalkSport host Laura Woods admits she would be “gutted” if Arsenal were to lose Granit Xhaka in the upcoming transfer window.
Sky Germany have reported that there’s interest in the Swiss midfielder from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, but a deal in the next summer is more likely as his deal with the Gunners runs out in 2024.
Xhaka has been with the North London club for close to seven years and played nearly 300 games for the Gunners in all competitions.
He admitted last year that he almost left the club back in 2019, following an instance where he was booed off the pitch and seemed to swear at some of the fans in the stadium during a home match with Crystal Palace.
However, since then he’s been able to rebuild his relationship with the Arsenal supporters and that moment almost four years ago seems like a distant memory.
Speaking to TalkSport, Woods (who is also a Gunners fan) said that Xhaka is currently her favourite player at the club and would be devastated to see him leave.
She stated, “I wouldn’t want to lose him.
“If they’re [Arsenal} Champions League next season and they need a little bit more depth in that team and you’ve got someone like Granit Xhaka who is the unofficial captain in so many ways, and I think is a bit of glue with a lot of those youngsters and the new players that are coming in. I really wouldn’t want to lose him.
“I understand if he wanted to have a move and play first-team football consistently and if you’re bringing in like a Declan Rice or a Moises Caicedo, that might edge him out a little bit. I understand and you wouldn’t want to stop him from doing that.
“But I think he’s got so much more of his Arsenal career still to live out. I adore him, he’s been my favourite player since the whole revival of Granit Xkaka. I just love him, so I’d be gutted to see him leave.”
It’s a true testament to his desire to turn his relationship with the fans around that some supporters would now be sad to see him part ways with the club
The Swiss midfielder has proven to be an effective long-term servant for Arsenal and one of the more experienced members of the current squad.
Agree 100%!!!