Xhaka - We have to believe in each other

As one of the more experienced members of the squad, Granit Xhaka knows about battling through adversity, and he has called on everyone at the club to remain together as we look to respond to back-to-back defeats at the start of the campaign.

The Swiss midfielder, who signed a contract extension in the summer, took the armband again on Sunday, and says it's now down to everyone to keep the belief, and turn round the disappointing start to the season.

Here's what he said to Arsenal Media after the game against Chelsea on Sunday…

On the performance…

Very disappointed. We had the fans behind us after a long time, we wanted to give them something back. But I think you could see today why Chelsea are one of the best teams in Europe. They are doing some good things, but I think we can take something good from today as well. Of course we have to analyse the game. Every time we lose we are disappointed, but we have to say as well about the good things.

On having the fans back…

Of course, it's totally different if you have the fans here or not. As I said before, we wanted to give them something back, and it didn't happen today. But we are working, we know we have to give them something back. We have to keep working, we have to believe in each other, the only way to come out from this is to be together with the fans, in the team, with the squad with the players we have and I'm sure we can come back as soon as possible.

On having belief…

I don't think the season is over after two games. We know we lost the two games and we are very disappointed, but we have still many, many, many games to go. A season never ends after two, three or four games. We know we have to do better things, but this will come soon, and as I say, we have to believe in each other so we can come out from this.

On bringing experience…

I don't think one player can change that, or two or three. We all have to be together, it doesn't matter how old you are. If you are young, old or with experience, this is the key thing at the moment.

On his contract extension…

I'm very happy, I'm still here. I've signed a new contract of course and I want to give back, first of all to our staff, and then after to our fans, and they know I will give everything - in every game and every training session. So yeah, I think we have to show that as a team soon. 

On the aims for the season…

We want to achieve something big, of course. After two games a lot of people are speaking about this team and about this club but I will say no season finishes after two or three games. We still have games still in front of us, we know we have to improve a lot of things and I'm sure we will do that.

On being motivated by criticism…

Of course. The other way is by staying together. A lot of people try to speak and to kill a little bit the players and the team. But the strongest thing to do at the moment is to be together, and only together will we be stronger and give the results on the pitch after.