Arsenal: Mikel Arteta has given fans the gift of the decade

Granit Xhaka’s future has supposedly turned around, as he is rededicated to Arsenal for the foreseeable future. You have Mikel Arteta to thank for that.

Arsenal were set to lose Granit Xhaka this winter, with his agent admitting that they were hoping to move to Hoffenheim to get away from an unappreciative Emirates, but whatever Mikel Arteta said persuaded the Swiss international to stay, and he’s rededicated himself to the club he loves.

What a gift for all you haters out there. Just think, you were so close to having the bane of your fandom removed from the club, but thanks to the new manager who we all love, you’re being forced to suffer through him for even longer.

Which probably provides a bit of a conflict, for all you haters out there. If you love Arteta, and appreciate what he’s doing, then you have to appreciate his work to keep Xhaka by default, right? But if you hate Xhaka enough, then you also have to hate Arteta’s work here, which makes you less fond of the new manager?

Here’s a thought: Mikel Arteta pulled out all the stops to keep Xhaka at the club. Arsene Wenger broke the bank for Xhaka. Unai Emery saw the best Xhaka has ever given us and Freddie Ljungberg didn’t deviate either.

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What does that say about you and your bias against him?

It says that you’re wrong. Four men with better footballing minds than you have seen the value that Xhaka has to this club. The fact that you still don’t is an indictment of your ability to understand what is best for this club.

Seem harsh? That’s too bad. The most frustrating part, from my standpoint, is how so many people fail to see how difficult it’s been when Xhaka isn’t healthy or in form. It’s a completely different team. The midfield is loose and fragile and all over the place.

When Xhaka’s in there and firing, he gives this team order and control. He provides the spine of the club. He is so incredibly vital to the structural integrity of the team, yet remarkably no one can put two and two together, contrast what it’s like with and without him, and draw a sensible conclusion from there.

Whatever. Arteta is on team Xhaka. Which is just one more valued member of the team that I founded (true story). You’re all welcome whenever you want to join.