Xhaka sends rallying cry to Arteta after back-to-back defeats against Villa

Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has issued a rallying cry to his former team-mates after their season was dealt a blow by crushing back-to-back defeats.

The Gunners have enjoyed an incredible season that has seen them play some superb football under Mikel Arteta, scoring 75 goals along the way to aid their title charge - but a 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa handed the initiative to Man City.

Just days later, Arteta's side were then dumped out of the Champions League after a 3-2 defeat on aggregate against Bayern Munich, leaving them at risk of missing out on winning silverware this season.

Xhaka left the Emirates last summer for Bayer Leverkusen and has instantly enjoyed success, lifting the Bundesliga title following a so-far unbeaten campaign under boss Xabi Alonso - while they are still in the running to win the Europa League and the German Cup.

He told Arsenal to keep believing that they could end the season with a trophy, saying one or two losses does not define their campaign after putting together an unbeaten run stretching to 11 games in the Premier League, ended by Villa last week.

'This is part of the game, I think it was 10 or 11 games unbeaten. When you lose one game, it doesn't mean you lost everything already,' he said, via the Mirror.

'There are six games left in the Premier League and there is still a big chance to get the Premier League title. I wish them all the best for sure because I am still in contact with the staff and players and also still watching the games.'

When asked if he believed the club could win a trophy soon, he added: 'I hope so because the team, the staff and the football club as well deserve to win trophies.

'They are very close this year as well like it was last year but football is