Granit Xhaka back at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger vows "there's a lot to come" from £30m new boy
In shelling out such a fee Wenger has already shown considerable faith in the 23-year-old but he is convinced he will prove a key asset to the Gunners midfield
Joe Mewis
Ben Burrows
Adrian Kajumba
Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on July 21, 2016 in St Albans, England.
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Granit Xhaka is finally getting underway with Arsenal - and his boss can't wait for him to get started for real.
The latest Gunners midfielder was part of the Switzerland side that lost to Poland on penalties in the last-16 of the European Championship in France this summer.
But he's now back and checked into London Colney on Thursday where he underwent pre-season tests.
In shelling out some £30million manager Arsene Wenger has already shown considerable faith in the 23-year-old.
But he is convinced he will prove a key asset to the Gunners midfield.
Xhaka is back after his exertions at Euro 2016 (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Xhaka will be part of the Gunners squad jetting out to the US (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
At £30m Xhaka is Arsenal's most costly outlay of the summer (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"[Xhaka brings] his passing ability to play through the lines from deep positions, his work rate, and he's good in the air," Wenger told the club's official website.
"He's a young boy as well, 23 years old. There's a lot to come from him. We lost three midfielders: Flamini, Rosicky and Arteta, and numbers-wise we are quite solid in midfield now.
"Elneny had a big impact when he came here, Coquelin was injured for a long time and is back. Cazorla will come back, Wilshere is back… so we are solid in midfield."
A number of youngsters will get a chance in the coming weeks (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mohamed Elneny could line up alongside Xhaka (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Calum Chambers will be looking to impress his manager (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Xhaka's hefty price tag makes him the club's second most expensive signing ever but new teammate Per Mertesacker is confident it will prove to be money well spent.
Ex-Germany centre-back Mertesacker said: "He will be the perfect signing for us.
"He is a good passer as well, so he will set the tempo. I am looking forward to how he does it, how composed he will be in training and in the games.
"He's a leader and that is really important, especially in midfield. He has got a very good attitude, is very composed on the ball and contributes a lot.
Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka profiled
"I don't know him personally but that doesn't matter, we will get along with each other very quickly because he is a good player and has done so much for Borussia Monchengladbach."
Mertesacker said: "He can speak German as well, so it will be joy to get his first year going and help him bed in as a player."
The Swiss midfielder has already been acquainting himself with Gunners fans, as he met up with the Kosovo Arsenal Supporter's Branch last week to watch a slideshow and accept a gift on behalf of Wenger.
Arsenal begin their Premier League campaign with a home clash against Liverpool on August 14.
Xhaka arrived in May but the Gunners have been unable to make further big-name additions to the squad that finished as runners-up last season.
Japanese striker Takuma Asano has also joined while Wenger is also closing in on a £2m deal for another youngster , Bolton defender Rob Holding.
But a major striker signing remains a big priority for Wenger this transfer window after Leicester frontman Jamie Vardy snubbed a move to the Emirates.
A new move for long-term target, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain , has been considered with Olivier Giroud mentioned as a possible makeweight.
But the France striker's agent Michael Manuello has back-tracked and insists Giroud is going nowhere after flirting with Napoli last week.
In pictures — Giroud and family hit the beach on holiday in Saint Tropez:
Olivier Giroud on holiday in Saint Tropez with family
Manuello said: "Everything I've read on the Giroud is not true. I personally have only said that if Arsenal want to sell him, then we will see.
"I do not know where [the Napoli story] came from.
"We never talked to them and there are no other people appointed over me that can do this. We need to clarify this.
Arsenal defender 'pleased by Manchester City and Pep Guardiola interest'
"You always need two strikers, Welbeck is out for nine months unfortunately. And it's quite normal. If you play in a great team, it is natural that we could face strong competition."
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