Swiss captain, Granit Xhaka will be staying at the Arsenal according to Gunners’ boss, Mikel Arteta.
The 28-year-old midfielder was close to completing a move to AS Roma, but the deal collapsed because the Serie A club never met the player’s valuation price set by Arsenal.
Arteta said on Friday that Xhaka remained a “key part” of his plans, but has now gone a step further by confirming the Swiss midfielder will remain at the Emirates for the 2021/2022 season.
“Xhaka is staying,” Arteta said after the midfielder scored against Chelsea in Sunday’s pre-season friendly.
“He wanted to play. He is a key player for us.”
Xhaka started 29 Premier League games for Arsenal last season, the only outfield player who started more was Bukayo Saka (30).
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The midfielder, whose current contract expires in 2023, took to Instagram after the match to further suggest that his long-term future could lie in north London.
“It felt really good to be home,” Xhaka wrote on Instagram.
