Xhaka: “To now be at a big club like Arsenal is a dream come true”

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka spoke recently to the Arsenal Magazine, in an interview that was also featured on Arsenal dot com, speaking about his love for his family and his excitement about joining Arsenal. Here are some highlights; you can read the full interview here.

What do you like most about Arsenal?

I like so much. I like the style of football [in the Premier League]. It’s aggressive and I like the way Arsenal play football. It’s not like other countries but it’s very, very nice here.

You say it’s aggressive, and every game in the Premier League is a fight…

Yes, it’s a fight. I like that but Arsenal can also play football and that’s very good.

. . .

Looking at your early life, what are your first memories of football?

For me it is a dream. Every day I worked hard at a small club and to now be at a big club like Arsenal is a dream come true. I am so happy. It’s difficult to say anything now because it’s a dream come true.

When you were young, which footballers would you watch and admire?

I think Zidane. He was a perfect player. Patrick Vieira was here and he is also a legend, he was such a good player.

What was so good about Zidane and Vieira?

They both played very good football and were very aggressive. In Vieira’s case he might have been a bit too aggressive but he was still a very good player. Zidane was a gentleman on the pitch.

. . .

Can you tell us something about yourself that we might not know?

I’m a young player with a wife. I’m not a player who goes out too much because I’m a family guy and I love my family. I also have a brother who is a very close friend.

Apart from football, what are you good at?

I play ping pong very well. In Germany I didn’t have anywhere or anyone to play against, so maybe I will have that here.

Is that something you did when you were younger?

I played with my brother and he was very good, but I think now I am a little bit better.

Are you ready to play ping pong against the Arsenal players?

I think so.

Welcome, Granit!