Granit Xhaka will emerge from this difficult period and prove his worth to Arsenal.
That's the view of former captain Patrick Vieira.
The Swizterland international's future at the Emirates Stadium has been thrown into doubt following events over the past three weeks which has seen him lose the captaincy and left out of the last four games across all competitions.
As a result, Xhaka has been linked with a January move to Newcastle United, AC Milan as well as a return to Germany , but Vieira has had his say on the matter and expects the midfielder to stay put.
''I feel sorry for him because he [was] the captain and he's going through a really difficult period and really difficult time at Arsenal," Vieira said. "I think we have to remind ourselves that he's achieved a lot since he's at Arsenal and he deserves a lot of respect.
"When you're a player and don't perform the way you expect, you get frustrated about yourself. And sometimes you say things or do things you regret.
"I find it really difficult a lot of ex-footballers have jumped on him and being really negative towards him - it's too too easy.
"I know how good he is and he will come through this difficult period because he's a strong man, he's a good player.
"And he will show how good he is.''
The fate of Xhaka's Arsenal future is set to be determined in the coming weeks.
Head coach Unai Emery spoke about the situation ahead of the 2-0 defeat against Leicester City at the weekend.
"It is important to stay without Granit Xhaka now but I don't know, maybe he can play in the future maybe he cannot," Emery said. "The club also knows how both of us are thinking about that circumstance.
"After the international break, I am going to speak to him again. The club is also speaking with him and we are going to decide how he is and how we are going to use him."
