Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka says he won't allow online abuse to drive him out of the club.

Xhaka and his family have suffered abuse over the past few years and it has led to the midfielder passionately speaking about the subject.

“I say always [to] myself, 'The only one who can stop me is myself'," Xhaka told an event hosted by the Arsenal Supporters' Trust. “Of course, injuries and things like that stop you as well, but nobody can stop me, not the people outside.

"This is why in my head I am so strong. I say that always [to] myself as well, 'I decide when I leave, nobody else, not the fans, not the people'.

“When I am not ready, I will leave. As long as I am ready and I feel good, and I feel I can help the team, I will be here. But because of the people? Because of a bad message? Because of the bad stuff they are doing, speaking and writing? No chance.

“The one thing is if you see the people face to face, they will never tell you something bad. This is what makes me upset.

“I have been in this 'business' since I was 17, nearly 13 years, but I have a feeling that the abuse at the moment looks like it's normal.

“For me, it doesn't help anybody and I think this is something we can improve on, a lot."