Few could have predicted that the 2023/24 season would turn out to be Granit Xhaka's finest.
The Swiss midfielder, fresh off the back of an impressive individual campaign and a near miss in the title race with Arsenal in 2022/23, seemed to be taking a step down when he joined Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Aged 30, Xhaka returned to Germany for just £21million, with silverware a distant dream.
Yet, under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Xhaka played a pivotal role in what turned out to be one of the most remarkable club seasons ever witnessed. He lifted the Bundesliga trophy - a first in Leverkusen's history - and the DFB-Pokal, while going unbeaten in domestic competitions and losing only one match over the entire season (the Europa League final).
It provided mixed emotions for many Arsenal fans watching their former star enjoy such success elsewhere. Gunners supporter and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards has now expressed his regret towards how easily Arsenal allowed the veteran central midfielder to leave a year ago.
He said on The Rest Is Football podcast: "Xhaka, when he left Arsenal, I was absolutely devastated because I knew how important he could be to a team. Okay, he got a lot of red cards and he was a target at times, but he was so good, especially when he was playing a bit more offensive for Arsenal at times."
Premier League odds and betting tips
Xhaka's Arsenal journey was certainly a rollercoaster, beginning with his £30m move from Basel in May 2016. In joining the north Londoners, he became their third most expensive signing at the time.
Fans were immediately underwhelmed as they missed out on Premier League winner N'Golo Kante, who joined rivals Chelsea for a similar fee. Arsene Wenger, still managing at the time, highlighted his best traits by saying: "I prefer Xhaka as a box-to-box midfielder, he has the stature, power and engine to make an impact with his runs."
Yet it wasn't until six years later that Arsenal actually allowed him to flourish in that role. Instead, Xhaka was often deployed as a lone anchor and a deep-lying playmaker, sometimes in a double pivot. He managed to clinch the FA Cup in his debut season under Wenger.
Micah Richards was gutted to see Granit Xhaka leave Arsenal (YouTube/The Rest is Football)But Xhaka's early years coincided with a turbulent period for the club, where they were regularly dismantled by top teams like City and Liverpool, slipped out of the Champions League spots and entered what fans dubbed the 'banter era'. During that time, Xhaka was often isolated and overwhelmed in midfield, reflecting the wider chaos across the club as figures like Raul Sanllehi and Sven Mislintat came and went.
Unai Emery's open and chaotic style of play did little to cover for Xhaka, who frustrated supporters due to his lapses in concentration and a growing reputation for ill-discipline. From his arrival until the end of the 2021/22 season, he made more errors leading to goals than any other outfield player in the Premier League, was sent off four times and conceded more penalties (six) than anyone else.
The strained relationship between the player, controversially given the captain's armband by Emery a month earlier, and the N5 faithful reached breaking point in a notorious incident in October 2019. After squandering a 2-0 lead against Crystal Palace, Emery, on the brink of dismissal himself, substituted Xhaka late in the second half.
What followed were ugly scenes as he was met with cheers and jeers from his own fans. He responded by angrily waving his arms at the home crowd, cupping his ears and swearing, before snubbing Emery's handshake and storming down the tunnel.
Xhaka's relationship with Arsenal fans reached rock bottom in 2019 (Offside via Getty Images)It wasn’t farfetched to think he would never play for Arsenal again at the time, let alone become a cult hero. But Mikel Arteta's arrival gave Xhaka a fresh start and a second chance.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appointed captain and Xhaka removed from the firing line, he quietly went about his less demanding role in midfield. Game by game, he regained the trust of supporters and won the FA Cup again in Arteta's first season at the helm.
He regularly slotted into the left-back position, allowing Kieran Tierney to push forward while shielding himself from errors in the centre of the pitch. His game reached another level with the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko in 2022, which gave him the license to roam up the left third in a more attacking role.
World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow
Thriving in a well-functioning Arsenal setup for once, the rarely-injured Xhaka defended consistently and contributed to build-up play. But it was his 16-goal involvements (nine goals, seven assists) that really turned heads.
The Swiss international played like a man thoroughly enjoying his football, often smiling as the Gunners fans began to value his experience and commitment. He finally earned his own chant and appeared moved as he was serenaded following an important victory at Stamford Bridge in 2022.
Xhaka won the double with German side Bayer Leverkusen (AFP via Getty Images)Completing a story arc worthy of its own Netflix series - from vilified captain to a fan-favourite - Xhaka basked in the applause as he was substituted in his final match for Arsenal, having fittingly scored two goals against Wolves.
His exit came despite Arteta and the fans wanting him to remain. Xhaka himself has since admitted he was eager to embrace a new challenge, one that would take him to Leverkusen and closer to his wife's hometown. It's safe to say that the move was a success.
Xhaka quickly found his footing at Leverkusen, emerging as a leader and an orchestrator with a knack for emphatic long-range goals. He even drew comparisons to the maestro Alonso in his prime, recording the most touches in the Bundesliga and covered more ground than any other player last season as they made history.
Watching his spectacular achievements from afar with pride and a touch of envy, there is a sense that Arsenal did not appreciate what they had until it was too late.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
