Granit Xhaka has revealed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the first Arsenal player to welcome him following his £35m move from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer.

The 24-year-old midfielder has already stated his happiness at the fact that himself and fiancee Leonita Lekaj were able to settle in the capital so quickly, especially within a new culture.

“He [Alex] was the first to contact me. He gave me his number and said that I could always call if there was any need for help. It was a nice welcome,” Xhaka revealed.

“At the same time, German players were also good at helping. It made it a bit easier at first, as I could easily communicate and ask for advice.”

Mesut Özil and fellow summer acquisition, Shkodran Mustafi, as well as club captain Per Mertesacker represent the side’s German contingent and it’s no surprise that all were welcoming and helped to create a smooth transition for Xhaka last season.

On how he and his fiancee have settled in Xhaka said, “We feel comfortable here. I’m actually a little surprised at how easy it has been. London is a big city with many possibilities. Me and my fiancee enjoy being here.”

Xhaka made 46 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal last season with only talisman Alexis Sánchez featuring on a more regular basis than the Swiss international.

It’s easy to see that the midfielder has a promising long-term future with the Gunners and having settled in quickly, it’s good to know that things off-the-pitch are well for last summer’s acquisition.