Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 8y

Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka: Premier League suits my aggressive style

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka says the Premier League should suit him well since he is an aggressive player who likes a fight.

Arsenal announced on Wednesday that they had signed the Switzerland international from Borussia Monchengladbach, arriving from the Bundesliga with a reputation as a tough-tackling leader on the pitch.

"I like the style of football [in the Premier League]. It's aggressive," Xhaka said in his first interview with the club's official website. "It's a fight. I like that, but Arsenal can also play football and that's very good.

"In Germany you can play aggressively but the referee will always blow his whistle, but in England that's not the case. That's better for me."

Xhaka is expected to strengthen the spine of the Arsenal team, which has often been accused of being too soft. He made 244 tackles in 108 Bundesliga appearances, to go with 227 interceptions, but also led Gladbach in passes made last season with 1,883.

However, his playing style has landed him in trouble on several occasions, as he was sent off five times in the Bundesliga.

Xhaka captained Gladbach to a fourth-placed finish last season, and said he's ready to provide leadership to the Arsenal midfield as well.

"I'm an aggressive player and also a leader. I'm only 23 but I captained a good team in Germany," Xhaka added. "When I was younger, even though I had a big brother, my parents would give me the house key every day instead of to my brother.

"It's in my head that I am a leader and captaining Monchengladbach was very good for me."

He has already set his sights on the Premier League title. Asked if the Gunners could improve on their second-placed finish and be crowned champions, Xhaka said: "I hope so!"

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