Granit Xhaka has detailed the importance of Mikel Arteta and the role he played in saving his career at Arsenal following his public fallout with the fans.
The Swiss midfielder was stripped of the captaincy after swearing at fans who booed him off in October, which led to him almost leaving the Emirates Stadium.
In the latter stages of Unai Emery's reign at the club, Xhaka was omitted from the squad but earned a fresh opportunity under Arteta, rising in prominence in recent months, and he has paid tribute to the impact of the Spaniard.
“Everyone knows what happened with me and the fans. It was not a nice time,” he told BT Sport.
“Sometimes this happens in life, maybe sometimes you need this to be back in reality and say ‘listen, I have to work more’.
“I was very, very close to leaving the club. Until this time, I had very great moments with the football club but after that, I was of course a bit down.
“But then Mikel came, I had a very good meeting with him. It was never in my mind to leave the club. Of course, you think about it but Mikel was the guy, he turned it around and gave me a second chance.
“He trusted me and I try to give him everything back. If the coach, if the boss says something like that, it makes me happy. Maybe there are people that don’t see my work outside the pitch but he’s there everyday with us.
“I try only to do my best for the club first, then also for myself. He gave me the trust, he gave me belief again in myself and at the moment, I’m more than happy.”
