Kevin Campbell told the Highbury Squad that Granit Xhaka could become a ‘squad player’ for Arsenal ahead of the new season.
In previous years, regardless of how he has been perceived, Xhaka has been a first-team player for Arsenal.
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But this summer, there were strong suggestions that the 28-year-old could be heading for the exit door, but now it seems like he will be signing a new contract.
Campbell agreed that Xhaka is a player who wouldn’t make a top-four side in the Premier League, but he would get into an Everton side that finished tenth last season.
“He would make Everton’s team,” said Campbell. “But unfortunately, that’s where we are (on Xhaka not making a top-four side).
“We’re not with the top boys anymore. We are kind of in that middle area. And this is what is p***ing a lot of Arsenal fans off. Xhaka is respected on the pitch – He has leadership qualities. Definitely.
“I think Granit Xhaka could be a squad player. We come unstuck against the better teams because we lack that energy in the centre of the pitch. But against a lot of the teams, Xhaka is okay.”
In the stands, Xhaka will divide opinion and that talk about his qualities, or lack of it, will never stop.
But on the sidelines, the men who make the decisions, from Arsene Wenger to Mikel Arteta, they always seem to select him in their teams.
Added with that, a trophy-laden coach in Jose Mourinho wanted his services this summer, but it seems his hopes of signing the combative-natured player are out of the window.
The summer window hasn’t slammed shut yet and Xhaka hasn’t signed any new contract, so anything can happen in that regard, but it does now seem as though he will be staying in North London.
In other news, Report: What Daniel Levy has told Tottenham Hotspur colleagues about Arsenal 23-year-old