"?New Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka has revealed that hearing positive feedback about the club from friends and colleagues who used to be Gunners themselves was one of the things that helped persuade him to make the switch to North London.
Xhaka was able to draw on the experience of Borussia Monchengladbach team-mate Havard Nordtveit. The Norwegian, who will be back in England playing for West Ham next season, spent time at Arsenal as a youngster, and said good things.
"I spoke with him about Arsenal and he told me it's a big club, a family club and it's very important for me to come here," Xhaka told Arsenal.com of his conversation with Nordtveit.
"Arsenal is Arsenal. It's not a small club, it's a very big club and it's like a family. It's very good for me because I love my family and to have another family here is very good."
But beyond just one team-mate at club level, Xhaka has two more in the Swiss national team in Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou, who, between them, were Arsenal players for a combined total of 17 years.
"Philippe played here and I play with him in the national team. Johan and Philippe have only told me positive things," Xhaka explained.
With his immediate club future now wrapped up, 23-year-old Xhaka can now turn his full attention to Euro 2016 and helping Switzerland escape the competition's group stage for the first time. This year will only be the country's fourth attempt at the Euros, with early exit to show for 1996 and 2004, as well as 2008 when they were co-hosts.
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