Arsenal Star Says Unai Emery Is The Reason Behind ‘His Best Season Yet’

By The Editor
on 17th November 2018

Granit Xhaka is loving life under Unai Emery…

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Arsenal star Granit Xhaka believes Unai Emery’s arrival is the main reason behind what he describes as his best season yet in professional football, Aargauer Zeitung reports.

Xhaka has come under fire in recent seasons given his lack of mobility in midfield, though he’s often at the top of the statistics among his European counterparts in terms of his passing ability.

It showed that the Swiss star isn’t the midfielder many made him out to be upon his arrival; a tough-tackling midfielder who would dominate games with sheer physicality.

He’s instead, a comfortable technician who can start off our attacks with his back to goal and control the game through possession and positioning.

When Emery was announced as manager, his fondness of Thiago Motta at Paris Saint-Germain should’ve served as an alarm bell that Xhaka would be right up his street.

Xhaka revealed that Emery reassured him of his importance and a new, improved contract was quickly presented for the former Borussia Monchengladbach playmaker.

“It’s definitely my best season so far,” Xhaka said.

“And then, of course, Unai Emery is an important reason. I didn’t have contact with him until after the World Cup. When I returned for pre-season training, he told me, ‘Granit, you’re one of my five captains.’ It’s one of the top ten clubs in the world, so that makes you proud and gives you confidence.

“The coach has had an enormous influence. He prepares us all superbly. We have a plan. We know how to implement it with the ball and without the ball. We know how, when and where to stand.”

Tactical clarity is a theme we’re seeing among first-team players and their praise for Emery, which could be viewed as a slight jab at Wenger.

However, it didn’t take a genius to work out that our players were severely underprepared for most games and despite Emery’s bright start, we still have some bad habits to weave out.