Granit Xhaka backs Mikel Arteta despite losing the title race to Man City
Mikel Arteta’s men slipped in the end to lose the title race to Man City.
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is confident that Mikel Arteta will push Arsenal ahead in the upcoming season. The Arsenal boss is the right man to take the club forward.
Arsenal’s title hope ended with a loss to Nottingham Forest and Man City won third consecutive title.
They had an eight-point lead over City in March, but despite their late capitulation, the Gunners have won acclaim for their progress this season.
When asked whether he thought Arteta was the man to lead the pursuit of City, he said: “You can forget this question – he is more than the right manager for this team.”
Arsenal dropped points six times out of last eight and it hurt their process. Xhaka says this season has to be the blueprint for progression.
“We don’t need to forget how we work for the last 11 months,” he said.
“Even when we lost now in the last two games, of course the people see what happens now, but don’t forget the 11 months we worked.
“If someone told us before the season that we will be here, I think everyone would sign it. Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course when you are so close to the title you want to win the title.
“But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.”
Forest’s victory confirmed that they stayed up against the odds in their first season back in the Premier League.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I have had a lot of that individually, this season is no different. That was always going to come with the amount of players brought in and the amount of money spent.
“During those periods we have had, we have had to show real togetherness and resilience.
“All credit to the manager, because he has really instilled that belief in us that we can still achieve. This is really special, let’s kick on again next season.”
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