‘I will never forget that Hull goal’

Granit Xhaka is loving life at Arsenal - and says he’ll always remember “the special feeling” of scoring his first goal for the club.

The Switzerland midfielder has been nicknamed “Xhakaboom” by some fans after netting from long range in successive matches, at Hull City and Nottingham Forest, during September.

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“That’s really special, Xhakaboom,” Xhaka told Arsenal Player. “I don’t know where the ‘boom’ comes from, maybe it’s because of my shots. To have a nickname like that so early on makes me proud.

“I’m not somebody who will score a goal every weekend, but I’m always proud and happy when I do score - and if it’s from long range, then it makes me even happier.

“It’s one of my strengths - shooting from long range. Sometimes it comes off, sometimes it doesn’t, but when they do go in, it makes me proud.

“It’s always special to score your first goal for a new club. Of course this was a goal to make it 4-1, so it wasn’t that crucial, but for me it was very important and one I won’t forget. It makes me proud.”