Xhaka's rollercoaster Premier League experience
Run-ins with referees
Granit Xhaka's disciplinary record did make the headlines numerous times during his Arsenal career, perhaps unsurprising given he was sent off five times for previous club Borussia Monchengladbach.In his debut season he saw red twice, with his first coming on his fifth Premier League start against Swansea, followed by another at home to Burnley later in the campaign.That one against Burnley is usually remembered because he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the neck.In total, he was dismissed five times during his spell in north London, all of them straight reds - and he was also no stranger to yellow cards, accumulating 55 yellow cards in the league alone.His time away from the Premier League may have helped though, Xhaka not being sent off at all during two seasons with RB Leipzig.
Six weeks as Gunners captain
Xhaka was appointed Arsenal captain by Unai Emery on 27 September 2019 but was stripped of the role by 5 November.It was a tense period at the club when the Gunners hosted Crystal Palace on 27 October 2019. Friction between fans and the club had been escalating for weeks with results and performances under Emery leaving a lot to be desired.But the game turned toxic just after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of delight from Arsenal's fans.He reacted angrily to jeers at his slow departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the home support, exchanging words before taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel.
From outcast to irreplaceable
Mikel Arteta's arrival in December 2019 helped Xhaka turn his Gunners career around.Signed by Wenger as a box-to-box midfielder, he ended up playing more as a defensive midfielder, which landed him in some rather sticky situations.Losing possession in deep central areas facing his own goal often resulted in conceding goals and it was something Arteta wanted and had to fix.Following Oleksandr Zinchenko's arrival in the summer of 2022, Arsenal had the tools to adopt a 4-3-3 system heading into the 2022-23 season and Xhaka moved from those deep central areas to a more advanced position on the left side of midfield.And this is where he thrived.Xhaka was involved in 16 goals that season (nine goals, seven assists), his highest tally in a single campaign.According to Opta, all nine of his goals were scored from inside the box after 10 of his first 14 goals for the Gunners came from outside the area.
Redemption
From those boos in 2019 to a raucous chorus of "we want you to stay" - Xhaka's story is ultimately one of redemption.He eventually left Arsenal in July 2023 to join Bayer Leverkusen for £21.4m but went out on a high, scoring twice in the final game of the season, a 5-0 home win against Wolves, before being given a standing ovation as he was substituted late on.Departing Emirates Stadium as a fans' favourite, he returns to the Premier League without anything to prove - and ready to add limitless steel and heart to Sunderland's midfield.
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