Mikel Arteta wants fans to appreciate Granit Xhaka after having to ‘convince’ midfielder he has Arsenal future

The 27-year-old has been with the Gunners for four years

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that Granit Xhaka is entirely committed to the Arsenal rebuild project and says he hopes fans support the midfielder when they return.

The former Gunners captain, Xhaka had a run-in with supporters earlier in the season which led to him being dropped from the squad by Unai Emery and stripped of the armband.

He has returned to the side under Arteta, though, and is regularly paired in central midfield with Dani Ceballos.

The Spanish head coach says he had to work hard on getting through to the Swiss midfielder though, as he was not sure over his long-term prospects of playing.

“I had to convince him he had a future, he had a place here and he could enjoy his career and his family could be happy here,” Arteta said.

“He is a player that when he commits he goes 100 per cent. He has worked really hard and he has won everybody’s trust again.

“I think he’s started to enjoy it again and, normally, when you have those two aspects together – that’s when players perform at the highest level.”

While his coaches and team-mates are back on board with Xhaka, Arteta added that he now wants the fans to follow suit, showing him their appreciation when they are allowed back inside the stadium.

“For a football player when you are on the pitch and you feel you have the fans supporting and you feel their love, it gives you an immense amount of energy and drive.

“Hopefully, he can enjoy that when the fans are back in our stadium.”