Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka was referred to as the signing of the season – after which got here his largest contribution to this point.
When the Black Cats signed the now 33-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen for £13m in the summertime, they may not have believed how effectively it might go.
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The Switzerland midfielder’s effort from outdoors the field earned Sunderland a that took them again into the highest 4 within the Premier League.
That may be a Champions League spot, 1 / 4 of the way in which via the season, for the promoted aspect.
“He should be the signing of the season,” mentioned ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports activities earlier than the sport.
“Is there anybody within the Premier League having such an impression anyplace? Arguably not.”
After the sport, by which Xhaka was named man of the match, Carragher added: “He was wonderful once more, head and shoulders above nearly anybody else on that pitch.”
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Simply how large has Xhaka’s impression been?
Xhaka leads his Sunderland team-mates in almost each metric going.
However it’s extremely spectacular how extremely he ranks throughout the entire league in an entire vary of statistics.
He has made three assists – with solely three gamers having extra (all with 4). He’s joint-Eleventh for probabilities created, and solely two gamers have arrange extra alternatives from set-plays than his 9.
Amongst outfield gamers, solely Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi (56) has accomplished extra lengthy passes than Xhaka’s 52.
However the Swiss has solely tried 87 lengthy passes to Senesi’s 138.
He ranks within the prime 20 for passes (552), balls into the field (56) and possesion gained (49).
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And now he has a objective, his first within the Premier League since his last match with Arsenal, when he scored twice towards Wolves on the ultimate day in 2022-23.
Supervisor Regis Le Bris, mentioned: “He is actually vital as a result of now we have many younger gamers and lots of new gamers on this league.
“They do not know the situation and one participant like Granit, along with his earlier experiences, is de facto vital for us. He has this high quality to attain.
“I am pleased to have this type of participant. He needs to play soccer, he needs to be aggressive, he is all the time related with the sport and he units the requirements.”
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Former Sunderland defender Jonny Evans, talking on Sky Sports activities, added: “He’s the one one on the squad with actual expertise.
“They will depend on him for something. Additionally his efficiency degree is superb.”
Higher than the ‘Arsenal villain’?
That is Xhaka’s second spell in England, having performed 297 instances for Arsenal from 2016 till 2023.
He then joined Bayer Leverkusen the place he gained the title below Xabi Alonso of their unbeaten home season in 2023-24.
Erik ten Hag, then the Leverkusen boss, insisted Xhaka wouldn’t be bought this summer season.
However the midfielder left for Sunderland, and Ten Hag was sacked a couple of weeks into the season.
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“I did not count on to come back again after Germany however you by no means know the place you land,” mentioned Xhaka.
“To be again made me pleased. I knew the challenge to convey expertise and present the fellows daily.
“It makes me pleased to attain a objective.”
Xhaka was a little bit of a pantomine villain – and typically a lot maligned – at Arsenal.
He was despatched off 5 instances for the Gunners and spent six weeks as captain in 2019, clashed along with his personal followers and was stripped of the armband.
However issues went higher below Mikel Arteta and he grew to become an vital participant earlier than leaving in 2023 for Germany.
Carragher mentioned: “After what he went via at Arsenal, he confirmed nice character to come back again from that. The impression he has had, if he may be a part of a Sunderland group who finishes within the prime 10 – and even simply stays up – he can be remembered for a really very long time.”
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Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini instructed BBC Radio Newcastle: “He exemplifies a prime skilled.
“When he was an Arsenal participant at instances you felt like he was a little bit of a villain. Over time now we have seen him mature and develop.
“We have seen a barely extra restrained model of Xhaka, but it surely’s really higher than the totally dedicated, blowing steam out of his ears type of participant that we noticed at Arsenal.
“He is somewhat bit extra measured, calmer and a greater skilled. To have that in your squad particularly once you’ve obtained a younger squad, and everybody believes in him, he is a talisman.
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“We have to wrap him in cotton wool and hold him going for 38 video games.”