Arsenal: Granit Xhaka has come too far to leave now

Arsenal have very few constants in the midfield, but Granit Xhaka is one. He could absolutely thrive somewhere else, but he’s come so far.

I’ve been waiting all summer for this to happen. For someone, anyone, to start talking about a potential Granit Xhaka exit. Some Arsenal fans are likely lapping up the idea, but as I’ve pointed out all too many times, they are just plain wrong.

Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has spoken quite highly of his Swiss centerpiece, and has even gone so far as to urge him to accept a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid, should they come knocking.

This is scary. Very scary. For all too many reasons. For starters, losing him alone would be bad enough. He is the cornerstone of this midfield. He came on so strong in the second half of last year that I could not be any more excited to see where he begins next year and where he ends up.

He’s just 25 years old. These are his prime years and he is only going to get better and better. All of the problems that he has been criticized for have been fixed.

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Even his sense of urgency has improved so much that the speed of the Premier League, which used to be a problem for him, is now his forte.

You don’t replace that. There aren’t any midfielders out there that does what Xhaka does and some of you might be saying, “yeah, that’s the point,” but no, it isn’t. We need Xhaka. And unfortunately, the only way for that to be seen is for him to leave, which is what has to be avoided.

The other reason why this would be awful is because, like Aaron Ramsey, I think Xhaka would absolutely thrive in La Liga. With the focus on passing and the lesser physicality, Xhaka could settle into comfortability and thrive.

But that would set him back as a player. He is just now getting up to speed with the English game, which is making him a better player. La Liga would not require the same out of him. They would require all that he is already good at.

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Don’t leave us now, Xhaka. You have come so far in just two years that these next two years have more than just me excited. It’s far more prestigious to be a Premier League stalwart than a top-heavy La Liga superstar.

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