Fabregas names Xhaka among five 'top players' at Arsenal
Football
By
Mirror
| Nov 15, 2020
Cesc Fabregas has given Granit Xhaka a boost by naming him among five "top, top players" at his former club Arsenal.
The Swiss midfielder and former Arsenal skipper has often come in for criticism from Gunners supporters during his time in north London.
Xhaka even looked to be on his way out of the club at one stage, after his outburst towards Gunners fans led to him being stripped of the captaincy.
But since Mikel Arteta's appointment as manager, Xhaka has revived his career to become a regular feature in the side.
And Fabregas considers the 28-year-old in Arsenal's top bracket of players.
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He told 90min : "Listen, it’s a transition period. Mikel has his ideas, but it takes time. The problem for a coach nowadays is that you have no time. You lose three games, everyone is asking for your head.
“I know it’s very, very difficult because you want to implement your ideas, and it’s a process. Sometimes, it’s difficult because football is moving very quickly, everyone wants to win, there's pressure from the board, from the fans, from the players. You’re on the spot every single day.
"He’s trying to find his team. They have [Dani] Ceballos, they have Xhaka, now they’ve added Thomas Partey from Atletico, who’s a very good player as well. They have Willian, they have [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang – top, top players, that’s 100 per cent sure."
Fabregas has also opened up on his views regarding ex-Arsenal teammate Jack Wilshere, who he believes could have been one of the world's top players before injuries took their toll.
"Jack was such a good talent, one of the most talented players I've ever played with," Fabregas told The Mail.
"He was just 16 when he first came to train with us and I was like 'wow this guy is good, strong, sharp.' It's a big shame what has happened to him, I feel sorry because he could have been a proper English legend of the game."