Granit Xhaka is ‘angry’ with Mikel Arteta after being told he must wait until the end of the season to leave Arsenal, according to reports in Switzerland.
The midfielder was stripped of the captaincy last month after he clashed with Arsenal supporters at the Emirates Stadium during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on October 27.
Xhaka subsequently hit out at Arsenal fans for the abuse he and his family have received on social media.
Xhaka is now keen to leave Arsenal in the January transfer window and has agreed personal terms with Hertha Berlin.
But according to Swiss newspaper Blick, Xhaka is angry that Arteta has publicly stated his desire to keep the midfielder but privately said that he can leave at the end of the season.
When asked about Xhaka’s situation earlier this week, Arteta said: ‘As a player, when I was going from Arsenal to City to start coaching and we were looking in that position, he was one of the players on my list
‘This is how much I liked him. 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 has got stuck in a very difficult situation that, I think, was growing and growing and growing and one day it exploded.
‘But I have been amazed as well by how this relationship is starting to come back a little bit and I think the fans have been very, very positive about him, and him as well.
‘Obviously it is difficult to change completely the scenario from where he was a magnificent one. But I think we are in the right direction with him.
But Xhaka’s agent, José Noguera, claims that Arsenal have been kept fully up to date with the midfielder’s intention of leaving in January and the proposal from Hertha Berlin.
‘Look, I will say it frankly and honestly, we are in agreement with Hertha BSC and would like to go to Berlin,’ said Noguera.
‘We have told Arsenal’s club boss Raul Sanllehi and sporting director Edu Gaspar, as well as the new coach Mikel Arteta.
‘Arsenal was informed about all the steps, the player and Hertha are clear.
‘It’s only about the transfer fee of the clubs.’
According to Blick, Hertha have offered €25 million (£21.3m) to Arsenal for Xhaka.
The Switzerland international played a full 90 minutes in Arteta’s first game in charge on Boxing Day as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bournemouth.
