Former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka (R) competes for the ball against Juventus' Sami Khedira. (Photo : Getty Images)
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker affirmed new club teammate Granit Xhaka as "the perfect signing" for the Gunners this summer.
Xhaka was acquired by Arsenal from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach for £35 million in May as their first summer signing this year. The Gunners had since acquired Japanese forward Takuma Asano from J1 League squad Sanfrecce Hiroshima for an undisclosed fee earlier this month and there more to come for head coach Arsene Wenger, according to latest rumors.
The 23-year-old Switzerland international, who had led his national squad as skipper to the final 16 of the recent Euro 2016, was one of Die Fohlen's most important midfield players last season, appearing in a total of 36 games in all competitions, scoring three times and providing two assists for head coach André Schubert.
Mertesacker, one of the most senior Arsenal players at 31, had admitted that he is eager to "team up" with Xhaka in the coming season as he thinks the youngster is a good "leader" and has a "very good attitude".
"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," said Mertesacker, as per Daily Mail Online. "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."
"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," the veteran center back said.
"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 will be the perfect signing for us," he added.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside indicated that the 6-foot-1 Basel, Switzerland native is "expected to be given an important role" by Wenger as soon as he arrives as the 66-year-old French mentor plans to include him in the starting XI this coming term.
Xhaka played for four seasons with the Borussians from the summer of 2012, when he was acquired from Swiss Super League club FC Basel for an estimated fee of £7 million, up to the most recent season.
