Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Wednesday, November 11.
Xhaka explains how Arteta saved his Arsenal career
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has spoken about how Mikel Arteta helped turn his career at the club around.
Xhaka looked to be on his way out of the Emirates after being booed off the pitch by his own fans, cupping his ears as he was substituted during a game last season. This led to reports the Swiss midfielder could sign for Hertha Berlin.
Arteta has since installed Xhaka as a key figure in his Arsenal team, with the Spaniard convincing the midfielder not to return to the Bundesliga.
“I was able to do something at Arsenal that I had missed in the national team at the time: explain myself. I didn’t go to training for two days, worrying about what all had happened,” Xhaka told Neue Zurcher Zeitung, via Daily Cannon.
“With my heart, I had already left the club. The fact that I am still there today is thanks to coach Mikel Arteta. First, he wanted an explanation from me of what I felt, why I had acted like that.
"That’s exactly what I couldn’t do in the national team. I could tell him my motives, let out what was on my mind.”
Pepe admits to frustration over current role
Nicolas Pepe has opened up on the frustration he is feeling over his current role in the Arsenal team, with the Ivory Coast international second choice to Willian for the right-wing role.
The Gunners’ record £72 million signing has failed to nail down a place in Arteta’s starting lineup this season, with all but one of Pepe’s appearances coming off the bench. So far, Willian has been preferred on the right side.
“My goal is to play more. Have a little more playing time,” Pepe told Canal Plus (via the Metro). “A player who plays is happy. For me, I would like to play a little more to find a smile again. He [Arteta] wants me to be 100 percent focused during the 90 minutes of the match.
“Afterwards, I see during training that I will be a substitute the following weekend. But the coach speaks to me, he also has assistants who are there for that. But it is frustrating for any player to be on the bench. The coach makes his choices. It's up to me to show him that I don't have that role.”
Former Arsenal captain blames Edu for scuppering Bellingham signing
Tony Adams has pointed the finger at Edu for scuppering the signing of Jude Bellingham, with the Brazilian’s arrival as sporting director in 2017 ensuring Arsenal missed out on the young midfielder.
Bellingham was handed his first call-up to the England squad this week after impressing for Borussia Dortmund this season and Adams has revealed how close Arsenal came to concluding a deal for the player when he was in Birmingham City’s academy.
“The chief scout was absolutely bowled over by Jude Bellingham & the great prospect that he is. The chief scout had the deal, kind of, done,” Adams told Sky Sports News.
“The new sporting director, Edu, came in from Brazil & had no European experience no UK experience & he got lost."
