Xhaka to ‘keep fighting’ as he issues Arsenal pledge

Granit Xhaka has spoken out to confirm he intends to stay at Arsenal and is “ready” to fight for his place in Unai Emery’s first-team plans. The 27-year-old Switzerland international midfielder has endured a difficult fortnight at the Emirates Stadium after a verbal altercation with supporters, who jeered him as he was substituted during the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on October 27.
Xhaka was subsequently stripped of the captaincy by Emery and has missed the Gunners’ last four matches, while the manager claimed at the weekend there was a possibility the player could be offloaded in the January transfer window.
Despite his ongoing issues, Xhaka, who joined the north Londoners in a £38million deal from German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, is adamant he does not want to leave.
He is currently with the Swiss team ahead of their Euro 2020 qualification double-header against Georgia and Gibraltar.
But Xhaka is looking to push for a place in the Arsenal side when he returns ahead of the visit of struggling Southampton to the Emirates on November 23. “You can be sure that I’ll keep fighting and putting myself out there in every training session,” Xhaka told Swiss newspaper Blick. “I feel last week has been dealt with and I’m ready. “After a difficult start, I played a lot and overall I’ve had a great time at Arsenal. My family and I also feel very well in the city of London.”
Arsenal have failed to win in four games in all competitions with Xhaka out of the squad. Draws against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Wolves in the league and Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League were followed by Saturday’s 2-0 league defeat at Leicester.
Arsenal now have just one win in six Premier League games and are eight points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.