Sunderland v Crystal Palace - Premier League - Source: Getty
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka shared his thoughts after being ruled out of Sunderland's Premier League trip to the Emirates on Saturday (February 7) due to injury.
Xhaka, 33, played for the Gunners for seven seasons - between 2016 and 2023 - featuring in nearly 300 games across competitions, contributing 23 goals.
In what turned out to be his last season for Mikel Arteta's side in 2022-23, the Swiss international enjoyed his most prolific campaign for the side, scoring eight times in 47 games across competitions. That included seven strikes in 37 outings in the Premier League, where the Gunners finished second, behind Manchester City.
Leaving the Emirates in the summer of 2023 to seek a new challenge with Bayer Levekusen, Xhaka is back in the Premier League, with Sunderland, whom he joined last summer. While he will miss out on an emotional Emirates return due to injury, he has high regard for Arteta, telling the BBC:
"He was the guy who kept me in the football club. Everyone knows it and I will never forget what he did for me."
Xhaka has had a positive impact on his Premier League return with the promoted Black Cats, scoring once in 22 games. However, he has missed their last two games (West Ham away, Burnley at home) and is also out of the Gunners match.
Granit Xhaka reflects on his Arsenal spell
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka is pleased to have played for Arsenal at a high level for seven seasons even though he had come close to an exit in 2019 after a fallout with fans.
In the aformentioned interview with the BBC, the Swiss international explained why he left the Gunners two and a half years ago despite being in a comfortable space:
"In general, I think people just think about this moment in 2019. But I came in 2016, so to be part of a football club for seven years makes me proud. ... it's not easy to be on this level for seven years.
"And, of course, when I left Arsenal, it was a hard decision for myself and for my family because we were happy there. But I got another offer on the table where I was thinking more far [ahead] than in the moment."
After two successful seasons at Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga title unbeaten (2023-24), Xhaka is back for a second stint in the English top flight.