Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka’s brother believes he needs more time to adapt to the Premier League
Basel defender Taulant Xhaka also says his side will have his parents support when they travel to the Emirates
GRANIT Xhaka's older brother says he needs more time to adapt to the Premier League, despite an impressive start to life at the Emirates.
The Arsenal midfielder has been in and out of Arsene Wenger's side despite scoring fantastic long range strikes against Hull and Nottingham Forest.
However Basel defender Taulant Xhaka backed Wenger's approach.
“Arsene Wenger is a coach who takes a lot of young players – he gives them confidence and also tries to help them as people."
“He needs to be patient but he knows this and I am sure he can progress there.
Taulant's side travel to the Emirates to take on Granit's Arsenal, with the Albanian international sensationally claiming that he will have his parents' support.
The Xhaka family emigrated from Kosovo in 1990 and settled in Basel where both siblings were born.
And the defender says mother and father Elmaze and Ragip will support the Swiss side 'for their heart' but still be happy for Granit if Arsenal win.
Incredibly, the Champions League encounter at the Emirates will be the second time in three months that the two brothers have played on opposite sides.
In an emotional Euro 2016 clash, Granit Xhaka's Switzerland beat Taulant's Albania 1-0.
“I was a bit afraid to start with as I didn’t want to injure him,” the Basel defender said of the brothers' previous meeting.
“As the game went on you relax and focus just on the game.
"To play against Arsenal in the Champions League is a childhood dream.
"It will be special. We both go into it with the same thoughts; that we need to win and give everything.”
The Xhaka family emigrated from Kosovo in 1990 and settled in Basel where both siblings were born.
And older brother Taulant says parents Elmaze and Ragip will support the Swiss side 'for their heart' but still be happy for Granit if Arsenal win.
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While the Arsenal midfielder has had the more high-profile career of the two brothers, Taulant Xhaka believes he has proved he is a good player in his own right.
“I don’t think I’m in Granit’s shadow – it’s not a thing for me.
“I think I have shown through my performances for Basel in the Champions League that I’m a good player."