Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed he told Granit Xhaka that he would score in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.
The Swiss international midfielder got on the scoresheet as the Gunners got back to winning ways after their Europa League exit to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
Xhaka has now scored in back-to-back matches and it came as no surprise to Arteta, who lauded the 30-year-old in Sunday’s post-match press conference.
It has been an impressive season for Xhaka with Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the table and hunting their first Premier League title since 2004.
Quizzed about Xhaka’s goal, Arteta said: ‘Believe in the game, get in the right position, believe the ball is going to land in the right moment and then being clinical there.
‘I had a feeling today. I told him ‘you’re going to score again’ because when you have that mindset and you are there and I see the way he’s training, good things are going to happen. He’s been phenomenal all season.’
Arteta also spoke to Sky Sports about coping with injuries this term as he added: ‘We had to respond and we talked about having players out all season.
‘Gabriel Jesus was out for four months, Emile Smith Rowe out for four-and-a-half months, Kiernan Tierney, Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah out for two-and-a-half months, now William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
‘We overcome those situations, Rob [Holding] came in and was brilliant today. Everyone has to give another edge to be at the same level, it’s not a secret.
First appear at Mikel Arteta told Granit Xhaka he would score against Crystal Palace
