Granit Xhaka has admitted he felt nervous when he first encountered some of Arsenal’s star names after his transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Arsenal midfielder has settled in swiftly on the field since his £33.8million arrival in May and was among the most impressive players on Saturday when Arsene Wenger’s side registered their first win of the season, 3-1 away to Watford.
Perhaps most impressive in Xhaka’s display was how he dovetailed with fellow deep-lying midfielder Santi Cazorla to provide the ammunition for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, whose goals in the final five minutes of the first half turned a cagey 1-0 lead into a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Yet Xhaka admits that when he first arrived even his sizeable price tag, the fourth most Arsenal have paid for a player, couldn’t stop him from being intimidated by Wenger’s star trio.
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“I have to admit that in the first few days there was an undeniable nervousness,” Xhaka told Appenzeller Zeitung. “You can see the players are world class just by the way they pass the ball. Ozil, Sanchez and Cazorla for example, are huge personalities.
“Even though the club has spent more money on me, there’s still a great deal I can learn from them, in every respect. Things like their work ethic and ambition are impressive.
“You can’t afford to rest on your laurels at all or you’ll instantly be on the bench. Every training session, every sprint, every exercise must be done to the best your ability.”
Xhaka, though, has made an immediate impression and looks likely to retain his starting role in the hotly contested battle for a central midfield berth. But the former Glabdach captain knows that with his high price tag came a sizeable expectation.
“Everything happens on a higher plain than it did at Borussia Moenchengladbach or FC Basel. You become aware of the global perception of Arsenal when you’re on the tour of the USA. Everywhere we went there were huge crowds waiting, the size of the club is unmistakable.
“Arsenal prepares the players in the best way. They pay attention to every detail. Everything from flights, food and service is done to optimise recovery.
“In England they’re aware of what I brought to the table in the Bundesliga. I think the players know that. They are likely to assume that a player who arrives with a €45 million price tag has two or three qualities.
“I knew before I arrived that the pressure at a club that challenges for the title grows quickly. The season is long, we’ll become stronger with every game.”
