Granit Xhaka has reflected on his Arsenal departure, his relationship with Mikel Arteta and the unexpected path that eventually brought him back to the Premier League with Sunderland.
Granit Xhaka has revealed that he personally asked Mikel Arteta to allow him to leave Arsenal in 2023 after deciding the time had come for him to return to the Bundesliga.
The former Gunners captain was speaking ahead of Sunderland’s Europa League fixture when he was asked about his decision to return to England, having initially expected his move away from Arsenal to bring his time in the Premier League to an end for the remainder of his career.
Xhaka spent seven years in North London before joining Bayer Leverkusen, where he signed a five-year contract. At the time, the move appeared likely to represent the final Premier League chapter of his career.
“When I left Arsenal in 2023, I signed a five-year contract with Leverkusen,” Xhaka said.
“So I asked Mikel Arteta to let me go because I wanted to go back home, let’s call it like this.”
Xhaka had rebuilt his Arsenal career under Arteta after appearing close to leaving the club several years earlier, just before the Spaniard joined as manager. By the time Xhaka eventually moved on from the Gunners, he had become an important part of the side which challenged Manchester City for the Premier League title in 2022/23. His final season had brought a change in role, with Xhaka operating further forward and producing his best goalscoring campaign for the Gunners.
His relationship with Arteta has remained strong since that departure. Xhaka recently credited the Arsenal manager with taking him “to another level” and helping him come through the difficult period of 2019, when his future at the club appeared uncertain.
His final season also brought a change in role, with Xhaka operating further forward and producing his best goalscoring campaign for Arsenal.
The move to Leverkusen followed that summer and immediately brought further success. Xhaka was part of the side that won the Bundesliga before his career eventually brought him back to England with Sunderland. He had signed for five years in Germany but spent only two seasons with Leverkusen before Sunderland provided an unexpected route back into the Premier League.
“After two years in Germany, I came back again here,” he said. “So for me, or for our families, it was a big surprise to come back to the UK.”
Arsenal beat Sunderland in a hard fought 2-0 win last weekend, but Xhaka felt the contest was much closer than the final result suggested and said their success under Arteta should no longer surprise anyone.
“Against Arsenal we did a great game, maybe better than last season when we drew against them,” he said.
“It’s not a surprise, the champions of the Premier League. They have the qualities and all these things, but I think the game was very close and could finish on our side as well.”
Three years on from his Arsenal departure, Xhaka is again playing Premier League football and now preparing for Sunderland’s first night of European football in 52 years.
