VAR controversy during Sunderland 1-1 Everton as Louis-Dreyfus delivers interview
Sunderland host Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday evening
The Swiss veteran arrived on Wearside during the summer transfer window in a high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen, but prior to his stint in Germany, spent seven years on the books at the Emirates Stadium.
During that time, he played under Arteta, and will be reunited with both the Spaniard and the Gunners for the first time since his departure when they travel to the North East to face Sunderland on Saturday evening.
What has Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said about Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka?
And looking ahead to what promises to be an emotional contest for those involved, Arteta shared his admiration of Xhaka in a pre-match press conference. He said: “I loved every minute that we spent together. When I joined, he was in a special moment of his life and his career, and between all of us, we tried to guide him, to give him a different perspective, to make him feel loved, valued, and he responded in an incredible way. 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.”
Asked about whether he had tried to convince Xhaka to stay at Arsenal prior to his departure for Leverkusen in 2023, Arteta replied: “Well, I already did it once and then we extended his contract and when he came in and explained the reasons, you have to understand the human being, you have to be grateful.
“It was a unique opportunity for him to come back to his country, to his family and there were certain things that he wanted to experience as well and I believe it was the right moment. He was very honest as he is very straightforward as he always is and we'll find a way to find a good solution for all of us.”
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Arteta was also quizzed on whether he believed Xhaka represented one of the signings of the season following his influential start to life with Sunderland, to which he responded: “Well, with the impact he's having, one of the best I would say. I think what they've done as a football club as well in the last few years is very impressive, the management and the decision that they've taken and how stable they look and how they have started the season, so really impressive.”
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