Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has credited Granit Xhaka with making him a “better coach” ahead of their clash with the Sunderland captain on Saturday.
Xhaka returned to the Premier League in July with newly promoted Sunderland after spending two years at Bayer Leverkusen following his departure from Arsenal in 2023.
The 33-year-old Swiss midfielder experienced some turbulent moments during his seven-year stint at Arsenal, including being stripped of the captaincy by then-manager Unai Emery after a heated confrontation with home fans in October 2019.
However, Arteta, who joined the club two months later, managed to rebuild his relationship with Xhaka.
“I loved every minute that we spent together,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“When I joined, he was in a special moment in his life and career and between all of us, we tried to guide him, give him a different perspective, and make him feel loved and valued.
“He responded in an incredible way. He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club, and I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him.”
‘One of the best’
Xhaka has been a standout performer this season for Sunderland, who are fourth in the Premier League.
“I think what they’ve done as a football club, as well in the last few years, is very impressive. The management and the decisions that they’ve taken and how stable they look and how they have started the season, it’s really impressive.”
Arsenal are six points clear of second-placed Manchester City ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Stadium of Light.
The relentless Gunners are favourites to win the Premier League after winning their past 10 games in all competitions, with no goals conceded in their past eight.
But Arteta brushed off the suggestion that his team would have only themselves to blame if they failed to win a first Premier League title since 2004.
“Any team has the capacity and I’m sure the belief as well that they can do it,” he said.
“We are fully aware of that. We know our strength, we know the things that we have to improve as well and we just focus on that.”
