Granit Xhaka has found a successful return to his football career in Germany, marking the end of his seven-year tenure with Arsenal in North London. The Swiss international’s transfer secured a £13 million fee for the Gunners, concluding a chapter that began when he arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.
Xhaka’s time at Arsenal, which consisted of 287 appearances, had its ups and downs, but he grew into a popular figure in the later stages of his stay, despite previous disputes with the fanbase during a tumultuous period at the club.
Before his departure this summer, Xhaka arguably had one of his most outstanding seasons with Arsenal. In this season, he notched up seven goals and seven assists, playing in a slightly more advanced midfield role, which significantly contributed to Arsenal’s pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2003/04.
His success came as he was given more freedom to operate as a ‘number eight’ in the midfield, excelling both in the final third and maintaining his trademark defensive tenacity. This role endeared him to the Arsenal faithful, a stark contrast to the strained relationship he had with fans back in 2019.
Rewind four years from Xhaka’s standing ovations from fans in the 2022/23 season, and you’ll find a different scenario.
Back then, the Swiss midfielder was stripped of his captaincy by then Arsenal manager, Unai Emery. This decision followed an incident in which Xhaka was booed by supporters during a match against Crystal Palace.
Xhaka’s reaction, which involved removing his shirt, taunting the fans, and cupping his ears as he left the field, created a major controversy.
Subsequently, he was left out of the Europa League squad for the next game, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang taking over the captain’s armband.
Unai Emery addressed the situation, saying, “I had a meeting with him and told him he is no longer in the captain’s group. He [Xhaka] accepted my decision. We need to carry on and focus on tomorrow’s match. I needed to take a decision and now it’s closed.”
For many, this situation would seem irreparable, but not for Xhaka. During Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Brentford in the previous season, with captain Martin Odegaard absent, Mikel Arteta reinstated Xhaka as captain.
The midfielder delivered a standout performance during this game, helping Arsenal secure the win and reclaim their spot at the top of the table once more.
