Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka says he made changes since clashing with Arsenal’s supporters in 2019.
Xhaka was booed by Arsenal fans at the Emirates when he was replaced during their league clash against Crystal Palace in October 2019.
The Switzerland international left Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023. He was a key part of their title winning squad in his debut season under Xabi Alonso.
Xhaka returned to the Premier League when the Black Cats signed him in July. He’s captained Sunderland and made 17 appearances so far this season. The 33-year-old has been their one of their standout players this season.
Süddeutsche Zeitung have published interview a detailed interview with the midfielder.
Sunderland are currently seventh in the table and have an opportunity to get ahead of sixth placed Manchester United and fifth placed Chelsea.
The newspaper told Xhaka that he has been an important factor in his side’s good run this season, and asked ‘reasons for his consistency at a high level’. This is when Xhaka mentioned Arsenal Arsenal supporters.
He said: “Since the incident with the Arsenal fans in October 2019, fundamental things have changed for me: discipline, recovery, sleep, nutrition, mindset, my circle of friends. I’ve become calmer and more balanced.
“I also had the privilege of working with two coaches, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal and Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, from whom I learned an enormous amount, technically, tactically, but above all, personally. The latter is the most important thing.”
The incident with Arsenal supporters took place at a time when Unai Emery was Gunners manager. The Spaniard was replaced by Mikel Arteta in December 2019.
In September 2024, Xhaka thanked Arsenal’s fans for booing him in 2019.