Granit Xhaka: I didn’t join Arsenal just to sit on the bench

Posted Tuesday, September 06, 2016 by squawka.com

New Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been explaining the reasons why he left the Bundesliga and Borussia Monchengladbach for the Premier League and north London.

The midfielder joined the Gunners this summer for a fee in the region of £35m and has impressed fans with his presence in the midfield during the games against Leicester and Watford.

Although only 23-years-old, he has already played 44 times for the Switzerland national team and 152 league appearances for Basel and Gladbach.

He told Swiss publication Berner Oberlander: "I have not come to Arsenal to sit on the bench or even in the grandstand. But I'm not 30, I'll be 24 at the end of September. I've moved to a club and a coach that can develop me.

"I think at Arsenal I can improve my speed and power. Because I realize now that I'm not at a hundred per cent of what is possible there. [Understanding] this too is an advancement."

Xhaka has been joined at the Emirates with Rob Holding, Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi as Arsene Wenger took his transfer window spending to just under £100m.

Perez and Mustafi; a forward and defender respectively, are yet to make their Arsenal debuts, having only arrived during the international break. But injury permitting they are both set to join Xhaka in the match day squad for the home game against Southampton.

The midfielder continued: "When it comes to tactics, then I think the Bundesliga is a bit the better league. The physical component in the Premier League is more pronounced, it's more rapid.

"It's just different. I would even say I experience it as completely different. In England there are teams that operate much more long balls."

Arsenal fans have long bemoaned Wenger's decision not to bring in a more combative midfielder and the Swiss international definitely fit that bill.

After their league game against the Saints, they travel to Paris-Saint Germain as the Champions League commences.