In his first season at the club, Granit Xhaka made more first-team appearances than anyone bar Alexis, completed more Premier League passes than any of his teammates and established himself as a key component in our midfield.
So how does the midfielder sum up his debut year at Arsenal?
“Well I'd say that I’ve had highs and lows this season,” Xhaka told the Arsenal Magazine. “The team has had good phases and not so good phases. But we’ve finished the season playing well and it’s just a shame we couldn’t quite get into the top four, though we did end it in the best way possible, with a trophy.
“I feel really comfortable here and to be honest, I’m a bit surprised at just how quickly I acclimatised to being here. This is a top club with top-quality players. Everything is organised well around the club, and London is an amazing city with diverse opportunities. I’m really pleased to be here.
“I think one big advantage I have here is that I’m not alone, because I’ve got my fiancee with me. She helps me, she supports me at all times and that’s really beneficial for me.
“The lads helped me to settle too. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the first to get in contact with me. He told me that he was pleased that I’d joined. He gave me his number too and let me know that if there was ever anything I needed, to let him know and he would try to help.
“For me that was an important sign because it can be challenging when you first join a club. When I joined Monchengladbach, I wasn’t sure of where to go sometimes or where to get things.
“Alex was really useful with that. Then there’s the German players too, like Shkodran, Mesut and Per, with whom it’s a bit easier to communicate.”
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