Granit Xhaka has Premier League expertise in abundance, one thing sorely lacked earlier than their return to the highest flight.
The 32-year-old arrived at in the summertime of 2016 underneath Arsene Wenger.
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He scored 23 objectives in 297 appearances for the Gunners, serving to them win the FA Cup twice and end runners-up within the Premier League in his ultimate season of 2022-23.
We’ve got a good thought of what to anticipate from the Switzerland worldwide – so here’s a reminder of his highs and lows.
Run-ins with referees
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Granit Xhaka’s disciplinary document did make the headlines quite a few occasions throughout his Arsenal profession, maybe unsurprising given he was despatched off 5 occasions for earlier membership Borussia Monchengladbach.
In his debut season he noticed pink twice, together with his first approaching in opposition to , adopted by one other at dwelling to later within the marketing campaign.
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That one in opposition to Burnley is often remembered as a result of he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the neck.
In complete, he was dismissed 5 occasions throughout his spell in north London, all of them straight reds – and he was additionally no stranger to yellow playing cards, accumulating 55 yellow playing cards within the league alone.
His time away from the Premier League might have helped although, Xhaka not being despatched off in any respect throughout two seasons with RB Leipzig.
Six weeks as Gunners captain
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Xhaka was appointed Arsenal captain by Unai Emery on 27 September 2019 however was stripped of the position by 5 November.
It was a tense interval on the membership when the Gunners hosted on 27 October 2019. Friction between followers and the membership had been escalating for weeks with outcomes and performances underneath Emery leaving quite a bit to be desired.
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However simply after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of pleasure from Arsenal’s followers.
He reacted angrily to jeers at his sluggish departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the house assist, exchanging phrases earlier than taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel.
From outcast to irreplaceable
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Mikel Arteta’s arrival in December 2019 helped Xhaka flip his Gunners profession round.
Signed by Wenger as a box-to-box midfielder, he ended up enjoying extra as a defensive midfielder, which landed him in some relatively sticky conditions.
Dropping possession in deep central areas going through his personal aim typically resulted in conceding objectives and it was one thing Arteta needed and needed to repair.
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Following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival in the summertime of 2022, Arsenal had the instruments to undertake a 4-3-3 system heading into the 2022-23 season and Xhaka moved from these deep central areas to a extra superior place on the left facet of midfield.
And that is the place he thrived.
Xhaka was concerned in 16 objectives that season (9 objectives, seven assists), his highest tally in a single marketing campaign.
In accordance with Opta, all 9 of his objectives have been scored from contained in the field after 10 of his first 14 objectives for the Gunners got here from outdoors the world.
Redemption
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From these boos in 2019 to a raucous refrain of “we wish you to remain” – Xhaka’s story is in the end one among redemption.
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He ultimately left Arsenal in July 2023 to for £21.4m however went out on a excessive, scoring twice within the ultimate recreation of the season, a 5-0 dwelling win in opposition to , earlier than being given a standing ovation as he was substituted late on.
Departing Emirates Stadium as a followers’ favorite, he returns to the Premier League with out something to show – and able to add limitless metal and coronary heart to Sunderland’s midfield.