Granit Xhaka: Mesut Ozil Allowed Me To Take The Free-Kick

Granit Xhaka thanked the German for allowing him to step up and smash one home…

Granit Xhaka thanks Mesut Ozil for allowing him to take the free-kick which gave us the lead against Newcastle United with the German listed as the designated taker, the Swiss star told Arsenal Player.

The free-kick was positioned quite some way from goal though it did favour a left-footer, and that was supposed to be Ozil according to the team’s set-up.

However, as we can attest to following the interesting clips released by the club, Xhaka has been rifling home free-kicks in training on a consistent basis.

His left foot is lethal and despite mainly operating as a deep-lying playmaker, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has smashed home a few strikes from distance.

Asked if he was always destined to take the free-kick, Xhaka said: “Yeah, Mesut said as well that I could shoot! We try it a lot in training and I was happy to score.”

On the feeling following the win, Xhaka went on to say: “We know it’s an important week for us. We now have four games at home, having won two games away, which is more than last year! We are happy to win today.”

Xhaka stepped up a level in the second half after the introduction of Lucas Torreira who seemed to immediately set the tone after the interval.

Our summer signing is yet to start a Premier League game this season and one hopes Emery now sees that Xhaka and Torreira is our best midfield pairing.