Granit Xhaka dismisses Bayern Munich rumours and insists Arsenal are on the same level despite 10-2 hammering

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka insists he is happy at the Emirates and is unaware of interest from Bayern Munich.

Former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said earlier this month that the Bundesliga side see Xhaka as a potential replacement for Xabi Alonso, who will be retiring at the season.

The Swiss midfielder has struggled to adapt to the Premier League since his £34million move from Borussia Monchengladbach and has twice been red carded.

However Xhaka continues to retain the faith of Arsene Wenger, who has made the 24-year-old the building block of his midfield, and he says he is happy to have moved to London.

When reports of Bayern’s interest were put to him by Blick Xhaka said: “I have read that too. But I have not heard anything.”

​Xhaka added that he had found himself in “an outstanding city, an outstanding club. The only thing that Arsenal has been missing is a league title.

“I believe that will change soon.”

Asked in a separate interview with Tagesanzeiger whether he missed the Bundesliga Xhaka said: “Yeah. But it’s not like I want to go back tomorrow. Maybe the day after tomorrow.”

Wenger’s side have found Bayern to be formidable opposition in recent months – their last three games against the German champions have ended in 5-1 defeats.

Remarkably after the most recent of those games Wenger insisted that his side were on the same level as their conquerors in the last 16, a view that Xhaka echoed.

“From my view they are [on the same level]… That’s how I feel. The defeats annoy me particularly because I have had good memories against Bayern.

“We were able to beat them three times with Gladbach. And I don’t think Gladbach are on the same level as Arsenal.”