Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has found a new "lease of life" under Mikel Arteta, according to journalist Paul Brown.

The £100,00 per-week star came close to leaving last summer but has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround and has been key to the Gunners' exceptional start to the season.

What's the latest news involving Xhaka?

According to Sky Sports, Xhaka was in 'advanced talks' over a move to Roma, with Jose Mourinho personally requesting to sign the Switzerland international.

GiveMeSport Transfer Verdict

GiveMeSport Transfer Verdict

Xhaka's switch to the Italian capital was expected to go through, although it eventually collapsed, and he remained in north London.

In fact, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang absent due to Covid-19 during the early weeks, Xhaka was tasked with wearing the armband, some two years after he was stripped of the captaincy under Unai Emery.

A sending off against Manchester City and a ligament injury saw him miss the best part of three months, but since returning before Christmas, Xhaka has started all-but one Premier League game.

This season, the 29-year-old has taken his game to another level and is not only keeping up his defensive duties to an impressive standard, but he's contributing at the other end of the pitch, with the midfielder already registering one goal and three assists.

What did Brown say about Xhaka?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "Xhaka certainly seems to have a new lease of life.

"I don't know if it's the influence of the Manchester City boys coming in and giving the team a bit more drive, but he's certainly doing things that he wasn't last season, when would be quite content to sit and back off from the play in front of him when he received the ball, he would give it and just sit."

What is Xhaka's current contract situation?

Just weeks after Xhaka came close to leaving for Roma, he was handed a new one-year extension after Arteta confirmed the engine room operator remained part of his plans.

Xhaka's current deal now runs until the end of the 2023-2024 campaign, while he also has an option for an additional year.

Therefore, with potentially three years left on his terms, there's no immediate rush to get him tied down to another contract, although it would be hard to argue that his form in 2022 hasn't already warranted one.