Granit Xhaka has spoken about "dark days and nights" during his time at Arsenal, contrasting them with his current happiness at Sunderland. The midfielder, who joined Sunderland in a £13 million deal after two years at Bayer Leverkusen, described the move as the "biggest challenge" of his career. He aims to "write our own history" with the Black Cats.
Xhaka made 297 appearances for Arsenal before his 2023 departure. His relationship with Arsenal supporters experienced a significant breakdown in 2019, resulting in him losing the captaincy. Despite this, Mikel Arteta convinced him to remain at the club until 2023, where he became a key figure in their resurgence.
The Swiss international's motivation for joining Sunderland includes a desire to pursue a coaching career, viewing the experience as crucial for future management. He embraces the "suffering and solidarity" he expects at the club. Xhaka's recent comments, stating "everyone knows Arsenal is in my heart," have reportedly caused disappointment among some Sunderland fans.
