Why Granit Xhaka reunion is a reminder of Arsenal's evolution under Mikel Arteta

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Evening Standard

·8 November 2025

Why Granit Xhaka reunion is a reminder of Arsenal's evolution under Mikel Arteta

Granit Xhaka walked so Declan Rice could run...

Granit Xhaka is no stranger to a comeback story.

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The midfielder famously turned his Arsenal career around, despite having his “bags packed” five years ago after being stripped of the captaincy.

His redemption was so complete that he will surely receive a warm reception from the travelling Arsenal fans when he leads Sunderland out at the Stadium of Light this evening.

It was quite the renaissance towards the end of his seven years in north London, but there is already a sense that his time at Sunderland could rival even that.

There were raised eyebrows when the 33-year-old arrived in the north east this summer, swapping title-challenging Bayer Leverkusen for relegation candidates Sunderland.

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From the outset, though, Xhaka made it clear he was up for the fight. Sunderland’s head coach, Regis Le Bris, decided “within ten minutes” to make him captain.

Since then, the Switzerland international’s performances have been nothing short of remarkable. He has silenced anyone who thought his best days were behind him.

No player in the Sunderland squad has won possession more times, created more chances or completed more passes in the Premier League this season.

Even more impressively, across the league as a whole, only three players have provided more assists. Xhaka also sits 11th for chances created across the league, and ninth for passes completed in the final third.

Xhaka has been at the heart of Sunderland’s impressive start, which sees them sitting fourth heading into today’s clash with Arsenal. Given current market prices, the £13million Sunderland paid up front for him looks a bargain.

He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club

Mikel Arteta on Granit Xhaka

“With the impact he’s having, one of the best [signings of the summer], I would say,” said Arteta.

“He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club, and I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him.

“He was such a character, a huge personality, very funny, super professional and one of those guys that can change the dressing room and the spirit of a team. That’s a superpower to have.”

Xhaka admits facing Arsenal will be “emotional”, which is easy to understand given his turbulent seven years in north London.

He and his family were subjected to horrific abuse on social media around the time he lost the captaincy.

But by speaking out, Xhaka reconnected with the Arsenal supporters and went on to play some of the best football of his career in his final season at the Emirates.

He scored nine goals that year - his best-ever return - prompting Leverkusen to pay Arsenal more than £20m in the summer of 2023.

Action Images via Reuters

“It was a unique opportunity for him to go back to Germany to his family, and there were certain things that he wanted to experience as well,” said Arteta.

“I believe it was the right moment, he was very honest and straightforward as he always is, and we found a way to find a good solution for all of us.”

The biggest compliment you can pay Xhaka is that it took Arsenal six months to replace him - and in the end, it took a £105 million midfielder to do it.

Arteta initially struggled to fill the void, with Kai Havertz finding it difficult to adapt to the left No8 role before being pushed further forward.

Declan Rice eventually became the answer, evolving into the heartbeat of an Arsenal side that looks ready to end the club’s 21-year wait for the title.

It should not be forgotten, though, that Arsenal’s first steps on that journey began with Xhaka - even if they may end with Rice.