New Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told Granit Xhaka he wants him to stay.

The sacked club captain has agreed personal terms with Hertha Berlin ahead of the winter market.

However, Arteta said: "At City, we were looking at players in that position - he was on my list.

"I have told him how much I like him and what I expect from him — and how important he is for the team.

“I am here to help him, I want him to feel we are right behind him. Not just myself but the whole club. If we can get the fans with him, I think it will be helpful for the team.

“I was happy when Arsenal signed him because I thought he was going to be a terrific player.

“He has done some really good things and now he's got stuck in a very difficult situation that, I think, was growing and growing and one day it exploded.

“But I have been amazed by how this relationship is starting to come back a little bit and I think the fans have been very positive about him.

“Obviously it is difficult to change completely the scenario from where he was to a magnificent one. But I think we are in the right direction."