Mikel Arteta has insisted he wants Granit Xhaka to stay at Arsenal after his best campaign yet with the Gunners.
Switzerland midfielder Xhaka has been linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen this summer, but Arsenal boss Arteta will not even entertain thoughts of the 30-year-old departing.
Xhaka has endured turbulent spells across a mixed seven years at Arsenal, but has hit a rich vein of from this term amid the Gunners’ Premier League title tilt.
Arteta poured cold water on the notion that Bundesliga club Leverkusen could lure Xhaka away from north London.
“As you can understand I’m not going to be replying to certain stories,” said Arteta, when quizzed on Leverkusen’s interest in Xhaka.
“But I’m extremely happy with Granit, I think he’s having an incredible season, probably the best season he’s had at the club, and we are really happy to have him.”
Arsenal host Brighton on Sunday with Forest and Wolves still to play. The Gunners trail leaders City by a point, but Pep Guardiola’s men now boast a game in hand.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale are all likely to pen new deals cementing their future at Arsenal this summer.
Three of the Gunners’ top performers this term reaffirming their commitment to the club will boost an already buoyant side still further.
Reiss Nelson remains out of contract at the end of the campaign with his future more up in the air meanwhile.
And with three games to go in the final throes of the title battle with Manchester City, Arteta admitted Arsenal must shelve all individual situations to focus on the run-in.
“Obviously where we are with each individual probably is different in terms of timing,” said Arteta.
“But the clarity is there, they know, we have communicated to each of them what the intentions are, and we are trying to get that done as quickly as possible, but also while respecting and obviously without losing any focus on what we are dealing with right now.”
