Arsenal: Wenger Must Deliver On His Promise To Granit Xhaka

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Arsenal new signing Granit Xhaka at London Colney on May 20, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Arsenal new signing Granit Xhaka at London Colney on May 20, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Arsene Wenger made an audacious promise to lure Granit Xhaka to Arsenal. The next step will be to cash in on that promise and make him Arsenal for life.

This has happened before. The final ink on the deal was Arsene Wenger. Alexis Sanchez had a choice between Arsenal and Liverpool and he picked Arsenal. One of the main reasons he cited was the fact that he wanted to learn under Arsene Wenger.

Related Story: 5 Reasons Xhaka Is The Signing Of The Decade

The same holds true with Mesut Ozil. The German maestro to this day points to Arsene Wenger as one of the greatest managers in the world.

It looks like Wenger worked the same magic on Granit Xhaka. The Swiss international opened up about what Wenger told him to bring him to North London. It gives us a good indication of what kind of negotiator Le Prof is.

“If you want to enjoy football, you have to join us. Here is the paradise,” Wenger told Xhaka, as quoted by ESPNFC.

Wow.

That’s some deep stuff. Now enjoy this video intermission.

You have to admire the passion and the, for lack of a better word, edgy way Wenger put it. He didn’t even give him an option. This is paradise. You won’t enjoy football anywhere else. Join us. It sounds like a Jedi mind trick. It was all aided by Xhaka’s reverence for Wenger. He said that Wenger is a living legend for him.

You can bet that Wenger was well aware of that and what his words meant to Xhaka.

But getting him here was the easy part. Now Wenger has to deliver, for the sake of his promise. “This is paradise,” he said. Now he has to prove it. Arsenal’s struggles have been met with exit rumors from Alexis and Ozil, two guys who undoubtedly heard similar things from the wily Wenger when they were making their decision. Wenger has not been able to deliver for them. Hence the exit rumors.

Xhaka is expecting the world. He is expecting paradise, obviously. Another second place finish won’t do. Arsenal have to win. If Arsenal fall short and as the season winds to a close, Alexis and Ozil are inching towards the exit, this ‘paradise’ will start to look like anything but.

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This is a huge year for Arsenal and we have another reason why right here. Xhaka needs to see the vision that Wenger sees. Just like Alexis and Ozil. They all fall into the same boat.

Luckily, part of paradise is already taken care of. Xhaka noted that his dream is to play in England and now he is. And not just for any team. For one of the most successful teams in English history. And he is going to be starting. Always. Or at least that’s the idea.

Next: Determining Xhaka's Midfield Mate

Whatever the case, Xhaka has everything at his feet in terms of playtime, surroundings and stage. All he needs now is for the team to come through.