Granit Xhaka endured a rollercoaster relationship with Arsenal supporters.
The Swiss star gestured and swore at fans after his withdrawal in November 2019. Xhaka was subbed off on the hour mark in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. His reaction, though, came in for criticism from some quarters. “I reached boiling point when I felt the rejection in the stadium on Sunday,” the midfielder said afterwards.
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Xhaka’s family had been targeted on social media, which understandably angered the 33-year-old. Xhaka, to his credit, turned his fortunes around Mikel Arteta.
“Mikel had two conversations with me and he convinced me to stay,” Xhaka told the Athletic this week.
His final season at the Emirates was one of his best for the club. In 2023, he departed for Bayer Leverkusen, inspiring the German side to a first league title in their history.
And over the summer Sunderland pulled off a coup in bringing Xhaka back to England. The Black Cats underwent a major overhaul following promotion. Xhaka was one of 14 new signings, not including Marc Guiu’s short stint at the Stadium of Light. Such upheaval could have negatively impacted Sunderland’s Premier League return.
Sunderland’s coach on the pitch
However, they have thrived in the opening weeks of the season. Indeed, after 10 matches, Sunderland sit level with defending champions Liverpool on 18 points. They’ve claimed notable results against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Chelsea. Wilson Isidor is scoring the key goals for the Black Cats. It’s Xhaka, though, who is proving the star man for Sunderland.
Regis Le Bris identified Xhaka as a key man for Sunderland early on. Ahead of his debut Premier League season, the Frenchman named Xhaka as Sunderland captain. An experienced head in an inexperienced side, the decision made sense.
A player well versed in the league, and playing at the top level, Le Bris looked to Xhaka as a core leader of the group. And the choice of captain is already reaping the rewards. Xhaka has been referred to as a “coach on the pitch” by Le Bris. In the opening weeks, he has three assists and one goal to his name. Those alone have delivered Sunderland an additional six points.
Distribution key for reactive Sunderland
Yet it’s more than Xhaka’s final third output that has caught the eye. In a Sunderland side that boasts the fourth lowest possession haul (44.1%), they need to get the ball forward quickly. This is where Xhaka comes into his own. He’s renowned for his distribution, especially his range of passing. As such, it’s hardly a surprise he ranks in the 80th-95th percentile for long passes completed per 90 minutes (5.2). Xhaka’s 13.5 final third passes completed per 90 also places the Sunderland skipper in the 80th-95th percentile.
Twenty-two percent of Sunderland’s attacks, after all, come through the middle of the pitch, the lowest in the division. Getting Xhaka on the ball in the centre of the pitch is vital to the way Sunderland shift the ball to the flanks. This is due to the way Le Bris has set his side.
The Black Cats are more reactive than they were in the Championship last season. Le Bris recognised that Sunderland wouldn’t be able to go toe-to-toe with the Premier League big hitters this season. The Black Cats would resemble road kill if they looked to control the tempo. Le Bris knows Sunderland’s limitations and has turned this into a strength.
The desire to stretch the play also tires defenders out. The wingers remain high and wide, and this eventually opens up gaps. Sunderland have become masters of exploiting said gaps as fatigue sets in. They’ve capitalised on lapses in concentration to great effect. A draw with Everton means they’ve claimed more points from losing positions (8) than any other Premier League team this season.
Off-ball work vital
Off the ball, too, Xhaka has excelled, but he’s not recklessly charging into tackles. Two tackles per 90 ranks in the 60th-80th percentile. Conversely, 1.2 interceptions per 90 places in the 80th-95th percentile. He’s won possession in the midfield third the seventh-most times (29) in the Premier League.
The Switzerland international is instead maximising his experience and reading of the game to alleviate pressure on the Sunderland goal. The resolve has seen Sunderland ship just eight league goals this season. Only Saturday’s opponents Arsenal (three) have conceded fewer.
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This is key for a few reasons. Notably, despite a low possession return, they are giving away few set pieces. Only Manchester City (8.9) are committing fewer fouls per 90 than Sunderland (9.2) in the Premier League this season. This means only Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion (both one) have conceded fewer set-piece goals than Le Bris’ side (two) in the 2025-26 Premier League season.
By shirking a physical battle, Xhaka is then able to get the ball upfield far quicker. This increases the likelihood of Sunderland catching opponents on the counter attack. Both aspects will be of the utmost importance as Xhaka comes up against his former employers on Saturday evening.
Reunion with former side Arsenal looming
Arsenal’s set-piece proficiency is well-documented. They’ve scored 10 times from corners or free-kicks, more than any other Premier League team this season. Restricting the Gunners from maximising key route to goal is vital as Sunderland look to claim a huge scalp.
Furthermore, of the three goals Arsenal have conceded this season, only one has come from open play – an Erling Haaland strike at the Emirates in September. Sunderland themselves haven’t been the most prolific this season. The 12 league goals they have scored is the fewest of the top-half teams. Even so, they have scored in eight of 10 league games and have the means to suckerpunch Arsenal.
Arteta’s side rank third for possession (58.3%) in the Premier League this season. They will dominate at the Stadium of Light. This plays into Sunderland’s hands. The Black Cats saw less of the ball in four of their five league wins this season. A late home victory over Brentford was the exception to the rule.
“Saturday will be special, for sure, because I am now on the opposite side, against them for the first time,” Xhaka continued with the Athletic.
If Sunderland remain compact, frustrate the Gunners and look to their skipper to maximise his range of passing, then the Black Cats may just claim a significant result this weekend.