Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfielder who spent seven influential years at Arsenal, is poised for an emotional return to the club.
Reports indicate that Xhaka has arrived in London and is expected to be present at Arsenal’s clash against West Ham at their home ground.
During his tenure with the Gunners, Xhaka notably played a pivotal role in their bid for the Premier League title last season, narrowly missing out on the championship.
Despite his integral contributions leading Arsenal back to the Champions League, Xhaka surprisingly sought a move back to the Bundesliga, joining Bayer Leverkusen.
His departure, which occurred swiftly, denied him the chance to bid a proper farewell to teammates and the devoted fanbase that held him in high regard.
However, this return fixture against West Ham provides an opportunity for Xhaka to reconnect with his former colleagues and the supporters who embraced him during his time in North London.
Xhaka’s relationship with Arsenal had hit a rough patch before Mikel Arteta’s arrival, marked by a confrontation with fans during a match against Crystal Palace which led to him being stripped of the captaincy.
Despite Arteta’s efforts to convince him to stay, the experienced midfielder still harbors mixed emotions regarding the incident.
In an interview with journalists, he stated that the club wanted him out after his row with fans, and that it was only Mikel Arteta who had his back.
“To this day, I can’t really say what happened to me (in) that moment,” Xhaka recalled. Palace was not a bad game from me, not a top game either. I was surprised seeing my number up, as captain, in the 60th minute. I thought it was maybe a misunderstanding, perhaps they thought I was p**sed off (with the substitution)?
“They booed me almost immediately. I thought, ‘OK, it’s me against 60 000, what do I do?’. Looking back, you regret things, but maybe you’re also happy that you did certain things. I’m still not sure… But I do know this: that day wasn’t easy.
“I was convinced I would get through it all, but for my parents and my wife it was hell. My agent was also in the ground. We were supposed to meet the club about a new contract two days later. That never happened, of course.”
“The club showed me little respect even though I was the captain. It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, apart from one person: Mikel Arteta,” Xhaka added.
“When I met him for the first time, my bags were already packed and I was about to hop on a plane. With my heart and soul, I had already left the club. I said to him, ‘The solution is for me to go’. Mikel told me he wanted me to stay. But I wasn’t sure.
“I remember speaking to my dad at the time. He told me, ‘Let’s go’. For the first time ever, he told me to run away. He said there was no future for me at Arsenal. I could not imagine myself playing for Arsenal again.
“I said to him, ‘I just want to be somewhere where the fans don’t boo me’. But he was so convincing. For the first time in my life, I took a decision without talking to my family first. I got up and said, ‘OK, I’ll stay’. We embraced and, from that day on, I returned to training and it was like nothing ever happened,” he stated.
In his early period at Leverkusen, the 31-year-old has made a considerable impact. Under Coach Xavi Alonso, Leverkusen currently leads the German top flight after seven games, remaining undefeated across all competitions, with Xhaka featuring in all 10 matches.
His wealth of experience has been instrumental, especially in a squad dominated by youthful talent, where he ranks as the third-oldest player under Alonso’s management.
Within the Bundesliga, only Min-jae Kim of Bayern Munich has registered more touches than Xhaka’s 738. Impressively, he has covered a distance of 50.5 miles (81.3 kilometers) this season, topping the charts among his teammates.
Xhaka’s passing accuracy stands at an impressive 93.4 percent, ranking fourth in the league. Additionally, he has succeeded in winning 52 percent of his contested duels, showcasing his prowess beyond ball possession. Despite not scoring or providing assists in the league, his impact transcends mere statistics.
The Arsenal faithful eagerly await this reunion with Xhaka, anticipating an emotional return for the player who left a significant mark on the club during his tenure.
