Former Arsenal man Sokratis Papastathopoulos’s opinions on Granit Xhaka should tell Mikel Arteta all he needs to know about the controversial midfielder.
Sokratis will line up against the club he left two months ago when Olympiakos host the Gunners on Thursday night in the Europa League.
The Greek centre-back was released from his contract back in January after being exiled from the Arteta’s squad.
But he has spoken highly of close friend and former team-mate Xhaka, who he believes is a vital component of the Arsenal team.
"Granit is one of the best team-mates I've had the pleasure of working with,” he told Football London.
"He's a very important player for Arsenal and I believe that he's a good player who can be a leader in the team.
"When you make one mistake everybody will go against you, but I know Granit's character.
"Before the Burnley game he played five or six games where he was probably the best player in the team.
"I think he's one of Arsenal's best players and certainly one of the best midfielders that I've played with."
Ahead of the game on Thursday, Sokratis admitted that it was not like any other game given the nature of his recent past, and the fact that he is still in regular contact with several players.
"It was a little bit strange because a couple of months ago I was with them," Sokratis added.
"I still speak a lot with the people at Arsenal because I was there for two and a half years.
"I'm in touch with the players. I spoke with them and they are excited that we play against each other. I'm close to a lot of them: David [Luiz], Granit [Xhaka], [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, Laca [Lacazette], Hector Bellerin and also Cedric Soares - these are the players I speak a lot with.
"I spoke with them and of course it's strange [to be facing Arsenal] but I want to win - I want to go to the next round with Olympiacos. Friendship is one thing but qualification is another."
