Arsenal: Mertesacker Comments Sets Xhaka Up For Terrific Year

Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker has high praise for incoming midfielder Granit Xhaka, comments that set the Swiss international up for a terrific season with the Gunners.

One of the wonders of modern day football is watching new signings come in, test their skills in what is always a new team and often a new league and observe the success or failure that enjoy or endure with their new club.

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Arsenal fans will have a front row seat of watching Granit Xhaka’s acclimatization to English football after his £30 million move from Borussia Monchengladbach. Arsene Wenger is clearly backing the ability of the Swiss international, only time will tell, however, if he is right to stick his neck on the line.

One player who is excited about the prospect of Xhaka joining the squad is Per Mertersacker, though, who was quick to heavily praise the new addition, hyping up his leadership abilities, as well as his tendency to be able to control the game, with or without the ball:

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"“I don’t know him personally but that doesn’t matter, we will get along with each other very quickly because he is a good player and has done so much for Borussia Monchengladbach. He’s a leader and that is really important, especially in midfield. He has got a very good attitude, is very composed on the ball and contributes a lot. He is a good passer as well, so he will set the tempo. I am looking forward to how he does it, how composed he will be in training and in the games. He will be the perfect signing for us.”"

These comments come in the wake of Xhaka heaping the praise on his new squad, and the mutual respect between the two parties is clearly something that sets him up for a wonderful first season in the Premier League.

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Xhaka has expectation. That is what comes with a £30 million price tag. He will have to deliver on such lofted aspirations, both for his own reputation and his new manager’s. Mertesacker, however, clearly believes that he has the ability to live up to such hopes, and that could see him have a sensational season.