Granit Xhaka was on the recieving end of some emotional treat at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday as he returned to the club with his new employer, Bayer Leverkusen.
While a section of the fans asked questions if he really deserved what they perceived as ‘an exaggerated welcome’, a club known for their emotional attachment to players will feel no remorse, even after what they considered a rude comment a few days prior to the meeting with Leverkusen.
Xhaka’s departure from Arsenal last summer, while met with mixed reactions from the Gunners’ faithful, marked a significant turning point for both clubs as well as the player, albeit looking deeper to his stint at Arsenal, it was rather unimpressive but for his final season.
Xhaka at Arsenal : A blunder with sparse silver lining
The Swiss maestro’s stint at Arsenal was marked by a few moments of brilliance interspersed with a lot of controversies. Since his arrival in 2016, Xhaka became a key figure in the midfield under Arsene Wenger, to Unai Emery and lastly Mikel Arteta, renowned for his leadership and passing range.
His arrival also coincided with the start of Arsenal’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League before his final season, whereas the club had made the top four finish every season since the appointment of Arsene Wenger
Before he touched a ball as a new Arsenal player, the now 31-year-old missed a penalty that ended his country’s run in the 2016 UEFA European Championship, in the round of 16 shoot-out loss to Poland.
This added to the growing frustration of fans at their manager at the time, Arsene Wenger, who reportedly passed the chance to sign N’Golo Kante for the Swiss man, with the French midfielder joining their arch rivals Chelsea from Leicester City for less than the amount Arsenal paid for Xhaka.
Granit Xhaka arrived at Arsenal after their elimination from the Euros having already completed a £30 million move from Borussia Moenchengladbach in May, and on his competitive debut, came on as a late substitute to pick up a booking in a 4-3 home loss to Liverpool in their Premier League curtain raiser.
The Swiss captain was a man that divided opions for several reasons. Apart from the question raised against the manager’s decision to sign him at the expense of Kante, Xhaka raised further eyebrows in his early days.
In September, he came on as a substitute to score a banger for his first Arsenal goal, completing a 4-1 win over Hull City and a few days later, Xhaka produced another long range goal in a 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
From scoring bangers to disciplinary issues and toping it off with a public fallout with fans in 2019, Xhaka’s Arsenal career was a rollercoaster. However, despite these hurdles, he played a crucial role in Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph in 2020 and their subsequent Community Shield victory.
In conclusion, he became a fan favourite and had his best season at the club in 2022-23, where he played a crucial role in their return to the UEFA Champions League, and a failed title charge. Then, he departed when the ovation was at the highest.
In his final seaeon, Xhaka continued to be an ever present figure for Arsenal. Never getting injured and always available for selection. He made a total of 47 appearances for Arsenal and had a hand in 16 goals, more than he had in the three previous seasons combined, nine.
It was also his most productive season at the club. Nine of those contributions were goals, which was also two more than he had in four previous seasons combined, and five less than all the six previous campaigns he had at the club. His discipline record also improved.
Even though the numbers and performances should have been much better, for a player that cost so much, and to add the fact that N’Golo Kanté, Wenger’s opportunity cost went on to have a much better career at Chelsea.
Nonetheless, the name Granit Xhaka at the Emirates will only be remembered for the good reasons because the Arsenal fans are a group of people that appreciate simple things, and the current change of air at the club has been good, and so is the effect.
But is he really worth it ? For a club with big expectations now, Arsenal do really need to take a chill sometimes. Appreciating a former player shouldn’t be overly emotional as it was pictured painted yesterday in North London. Even so, a player that was not spectacular in their services to the club.
As luck would have it, Xhaka went on to have a successful first season with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the domestic double in Germany. Going invincible in both competitions, and also reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, where they lost 3-0 to Bergamo side, Atalanta.
Two steps foward take by Granit Xhaka
Ahead of a return to the club he spent seven seasons with, Granit Xhaka spoke about himself and everything that has happened to him since the move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
At Leverkusen, Xhaka thrived, becoming an integral part of their midfield. His experience and tenacity was vital for Xabi Alonso’s side and he was pictured as a role model by many of the youngsters in the team.
Though he was at his possible best in his final season at Arsenal, even scoring twice in his final appearance, a 5-0 win over Wolverhampton Wonderers on the closing weekend of the 2022-23 Premier League season, he got even better from the onset in Germany.
It wasn’t even about the goals as it took him until February to record the first of his four for the club so far. In addition to the aforementioned attributes, his leadership on and off the pitch was lauded by teammates and fans alike, solidifying his status as a key player for the German club.
And talking about the goals, his latest was vital for the club as it was the lone goal in their DFB-Pokal final win over Kaiserslautern in May, and what a goal it was.
“The move from Arsenal to Leverkusen was not a step back, but rather two steps forward. I had exactly the feeling, during conversations with the coach and with Simon Rolfes, that something special can arise here in the next few years.” Granit Xhaka said via Bild.
Of course, given what he has achieved in a very short time, it is much more than two steps forward for him, personally. It would be absurd of anyone to try and downplay that fact. While Arsenal remains without a league title since their invincible campaign 20 years ago, Xhaka won the domestic double with a team that had to dethrone Bayern Munich and win their first-ever league title in history, having finished sixth the season before.
He has grown in achievement, statue and as an individual. The respect he commanded amongst his teammates, former teammates and fans at the Emirates last night was evident.
“Good to see you… Invincible… Yes… We did it…” was the exchnages between Granit Xhaka and a fan outside the Emirates Stadium ahead of the showdown yesterday.
He was shown the love a club would afford its legend. His picture was displayed with a caption “welcome back” on the big screen at the stadium before the game kicked off and at full-time, almost the entire Arsenal squad took turns to have their moment with him on the pitch.
It was such an emotional scene. A moment that also had the former Moenchengladbach man wave to the home fans as he was taken off with the final quarter of the game to play.
Yes. Xhaka is now a bigger man, bigger player, an achiever, but at full-time, Mikel Arteta’s minions have been able to prove to him (Xhaka), the fans, and the entire Bayer Leverkusen team that they got better without him, too.
Granit Xhaka right but so was Arsenal
Arsenal coasted to a 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in their pre-season friendly meeting at the Emirates thanks to goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, with Adam Hlozek grabbing a late consolation for the Bundesliga winner.
The Gunners never look in any sort of danger throughout the contest despite several changes to their attack with the trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice all watching from the bench. Thomas Partey was also left out of the XI.
While Xabi Alonso, who was also able to share a special moment with his childhood friend, Mikel Arteta, named his strongest available for the clash with only Alejandro Grimaldo and Exequiel Palacio the major absentees from their iconic XI last season, and their places were filled by other first team regulars.
Robert Andrich and Victor Boniface were left on the bench while new signings Aleix Garcia and Martin Terrier were both named in the starting XI in N5.
Apart from goalkeeper, Matej Kovar (17), Odilon Kossounou (34) and Terrier (35), every other player that started the match for Leverkusen made 40 or more appearances last season.
It was one of the best they could offer. Despite this, Arsenal blew them away in the opening exchange, taking a 2-0 lead less than ten minutes of kickoff.
Kai Havertz, a former Bayer Leverkusen player and the direct Granit Xhaka replacement at Arsenal played a huge in this decimation, sending a strong message to his predecessor by assisting both Zinchenko and Trossard.
It got better for Arsenal before the break as Jesus made it three before Havertz capped off his MVP display with a second-half goal as the host ran away with it.
While Xhaka has been brilliant for Leverkusen, Kai Havertz has been doing his bit for Arsenal, too, even better delivery than the Swiss did at Arsenal.
In his debut season, the silky Germany was deployed both in midfield and attack. His versatility is another strength to his game that Xhaka does not compare.
Despite taking him sometime before setting off at Arsenal, Havertz scored 14 goals in his debut season, nine of those, including another six assists coming since the turn of the year, more precisely in his final 18 games.
He finished last season on a high and despite the thoughts that he was signed as Xhaka’s replacement, there have been calls to make him the club’s main striker due to his improvement, that of his teammates, and the club when he has plays there.
Two assists and a goal against Bayer Leverkusen, the home fans in the Emirates can now see no fault in Mikel Arteta’s choice of signing Havertz as the replacement of Granit Xhaka.
But as the summer window continues to last, the call for the club to sign a new midfielder will continue. Interest has been registered in Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino but the club is taking its time to see if there’ll be better opportunities in the window.
Maybe afterall, another successor will come in for Xhaka because even though Arsenal was right in signing Havertz in the wake of his departure, the German has thrived in a different position.
However, one might consider Declan Rice too. Who played in the Granit Xhaka role more frequently last season after Havertz was moved up-front.
In the form of the former West Ham United man, there’s no question to be asked. Surely an absolute upgrade on Xhaka but since Rice can take up the Defensive midfield role, Arsenal is on the lookout for a central midfield profile.
Arsenal continues the hunt for Xhaka’s replacement
Mikel Merino is brilliant scouting choice. Nevertheless, maybe there is a better alternative in the window. Just maybe.
A more productive midfield maybe a better option as things stands. Aside the Spaniard, not many names has been linked with the Gunners for that role but with the way things has cooled down regarding Merino, it could be as a result of other market opportunities.
While Merino’s teammate Martin Zubimendi is now linked with a move to Liverpool, the potential completion of that deal will make it more difficult for Merino to leave the Basque club.
However, should Arsenal push for the former Newcastle United man, who has confessed his love to return to the Premier League, they’ll have the better chances of getting their man since he has one year left on his contract, compared to Zubimendi’s three.
Mikel Arteta’s love for versatility will also play a part in the profile of player that’ll come in. Just like Merino, many of the players in the Arsenal squad can play multiple positions, and even their latest signing, Riccardo Calafiori is not an exception.
Looking forward to the future
The scene yesterday was an evident that Xhaka was right with his assertion that his move to Bayer Leverkusen being two steps forward from Arsenal, but that doesn’t undermine the fact that Arsenal got better without him.
While Granit Xhaka adorns his newfound success in Germany, Arsenal fans will with delight watch their team continue to get better and a sing the 60 million down the drain chorus each time Kai Havertz finds the back of the net, as they hope for their glory days to come around.
Many analysts will agree that signing Havertz was a better move for Arsenal than retaining Xhaka. Havertz’s younger age and versatility offer a more dynamic and forward-thinking approach that aligns with Arteta’s vision for the future. But at the same time, Xhaka’s improvement at Leverkusen is telling.
While the Gernan has proven to be the better fit for Arsenal, he hasn’t as Xhaka’s replacement. That makes a midfielder signing priority this window.
But another takeaway for the Gunners is to raise their standards when it comes to appreciating the services of former players. Granit Xhaka spent time at the club but on average, it was the worse duration of the club in the new era, and the Swiss played a huge role in that failure.
They made Granit Xhaka look like a big achiever at their club and that explained why his statement hurt despite it being the truth. A mistake they’re not all conceding with their ovation in the Emirates last night.
While Xhaka may intend no harm in his statement, it does little to make Arsenal look weak, that anyone can come to their club, underperform and still say things that puts them in an awkward position, yet get praised a few days later.
Arsenal wrap up their pre-season this Sunday in the Emirates when they entertain Olympic Lyon in the Emirates Cup while a day before that, Leverkusen and Granit Xhaka will take on Real Betis, before the German Super Cup meeting with Stuttgart next weekend.
