Granit Xhaka reckons Arsenal released the best player he ever played with

Granit Xhaka has played with some exceptional players during his career.

The midfielder may not have become a Premier League champion during his time at the Emirates, but he has had a storied career at both club and international level.

Xhaka has played with the likes of Florian Wirtz at club level, while Xherdan Shaqiri was a talisman for his national team for a long time.

Now, speaking on Sunderland’s TikTok page, Xhaka has named the best player he ever played with, and he gave an answer that is bound to intrigue Arsenal supporters.

Granit Xhaka names Mesut Ozil as his best ever teammate

Xhaka was asked to name the best player he ever played with, and he didn’t hesitate when giving his response.

The midfielder was quick to name Mesut Ozil as the greatest footballer he has shared a pitch with, and it’s not hard to figure out why.

@sunderlandafc

🪄 A brilliant answer from Trai Hume! Who is the best player you’ve played with? 🤔 #Football #premierleague #soccer

♬ original sound – Sunderland AFC – Sunderland AFC

Any Arsenal fan knows, on his day, Ozil was in a class of his own as a playmaker. The German won a World Cup for a reason, and, in another world, he would’ve broken the Premier League assist record at Arsenal if Olivier Giroud hadn’t lost his shooting boots for an extended period.

Xhaka is exactly the type of footballing mind who would appreciate and respect a graceful playmaker like Ozil.

Granit Xhaka’s record alongside Mesut Ozil

Xhaka says Ozil is his greatest ever teammate, and the pair’s record together does suggest this was a great partnership.

Xhaka and Ozil played 112 games together for Arsenal, winning 61, drawing 24 and losing just 27.

Interestingly, these two didn’t lose any of the first 16 games they played together, and that early period was incredible, but, inevitably their record did take a hit in the late 2010s as Arsenal struggled immediately in the post-Wenger era.

Ozil was eventually released by Arsenal, while Xhaka has since become a Bundesliga champion before returning to the Premier League with Sunderland and leading the Black Cats into Europe.