Football
ESPN staff 7y

Granit Xhaka 'very happy' after adapting at Arsenal

Granit Xhaka feels "very happy" at Arsenal after finally finding his feet since his summer move to England.

Xhaka, 24, returns to former club Basel on Tuesday as an established part of the Gunners' first team after taking time to adapt to the Premier League following his transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.

After starting just two of his new club's first six Premier League games this term, he has been on the pitch at kick-off for all but one of the Gunners' last six top-flight outings, a sign that his period of adaptation is over.

"It's normal, if you go to a new club, a new country, you need to get to know the language, the coach, the philosophy, the squad," said the Switzerland international, who has made two Champions League starts so far.

"But I feel very happy, very comfortable. I know my potential. In football, you have to be patient and work on yourself."

That work started in his hometown of Basel where he emerged from the club's youth academy to win two Swiss league titles before crossing the border to Germany in summer 2012.

Arsenal need to better Paris Saint-Germain's result at home to Ludogorets Razgrad to overhaul the Ligue 1 champions at the top of Group A.

Back on familiar ground, Xhaka is feeling positive ahead of his team's final group-stage encounter.

"I was born and raised here, I grew up here. I won trophies here," said Xhaka, who could face his elder brother Taulant on the pitch. "It's great to be back home, an enormously great feeling, and I think we can get something positive to go back to England with."

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