Granit Xhaka has noticed something different about Arsenal since he left
Arsenal face Granit Xhaka and Sunderland on Saturday night.
The Switzerland captain left Arsenal to pursue a new challenge at Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, where he would win the Bundesliga title in his first season.
The relationship between Xhaka and Arsenal fans had not always been smooth. But by the time he left, he’d won back the fans completely.
His performances under Mikel Arteta were some of the best of his career, and his departure was genuinely mourned.
We were all relieved he didn’t join Chelsea in the summer when Xabi Alonso made it clear he wanted him, because he would’ve undoubtedly improved their midfield.
On Saturday night, he faces some of his former teammates and his former manager at the Stadium of Light.
Ahead of the game, speaking to The Sports Agents, he was asked how the league has changed over his two stints in England.
“To be honest, it changed in two years when I was in Germany. The Premier League changed. It was already a little bit starting about the set pieces before I left but I have the feeling that now the set pieces are the key.
“And it is not just the corners, the free kicks — it’s even the throw-ins now, the long throw-ins.
“Even Arsenal, the Premier League winners — they put the ball inside. If they go for long balls from goal kicks with Raya they put the ball to Havertz.
“They’re not trying to play 500 passes like they did before. In the end it’s about winning. Doesn’t matter if how you play looks good or not. You want to win and this is the most important thing in football.”
The Arsenal Xhaka left were a very different team to the one now.
He refers to how Arsenal don’t always play out from the back like they may have done when he was still there. They have the luxury and the quality to go straight from the goalkeeper to the centre-forward.
Much has been said about their physicality and their set-piece threat, but with Martin Odegaard back to his best, they’re so well-rounded now, and Xhaka is fully aware of that.