Striding angrily from the pitch to the Emirates Stadium tunnel, Granit Xhaka went through an experience that few, if any, have walked and returned from. I watched from the North Bank as Arsenal’s captain, my captain, cupped his hand to his ear and then proceeded to tear off his shirt and storm down into the bowels of the ground.
What Xhaka has achieved since that moment is quite miraculous. I never agreed with his reaction and cannot justify it, but I certainly understood why he did what he did and couldn’t begrudge him of the actions, the words that couldn’t be heard but were easily interpretable.
A man whose young child had received threats of abuse leading up to the point where it all just snapped. Those people that booed might not have been those same people, we can never be completely sure, but at that moment that didn’t matter.
READ MORE: Granit Xhaka's Arsenal exit could prove costly as Declan Rice alone continues squad problem
At the end of the 2022/23 season, we have reached a point where Xhaka’s journey with Arsenal appears to be reaching its conclusion. The player is nearing the exit door and Arsenal will receive a figure in the region of £13m from Bayer Leverkusen for the player football.london understands.
I have worries. Yes, it appears that Arsenal are going to try and sign some top quality in the summer but as I have discussed before, having that changeover point with the existing option who is to be replaced still at the club has seen success as shown by Fernandinho’s transition to Rodri at Manchester City.
But at this moment, with the curtain not yet fallen it’s important to reflect on just how Xhaka went from boos to, “We’ve got Granit Xhaka, we’ve got Granit Xhaka!” Mikel Arteta is at the root cause of it all, is the truth.
With one hand firmly on a ticket out of Arsenal and to Hertha Berlin in January of 2020, Arteta wrestled the Swiss international’s focus back to north London. Xhaka stayed and despite not retaking the armband, at least not physically, was reintegrated into the group swiftly by the Spaniard.
As time went on, his role began to change. No longer would Xhaka be exposed in a position deepest in the midfield exacerbating his weaknesses on the turn and in precarious positions.
Arteta unlocked what many people had felt had been hiding away on the international stage with Switzerland. He went from scoring just one goal in 2021/22 to having scored seven with still two games left to play in the current campaign.
Thomas Partey’s influence has been key in releasing Xhaka further forward. Xhaka's been integral to Arsenal’s build-up and whenever he isn’t on the field, as was the case against Southampton at home in the 3-3 draw, it is felt massively.
This is where that worry returns. But at the same time, there is reason for intrigue at exactly how Arsenal plan to evolve the left eight position in the wake of Xhaka’s seemingly imminent departure.
Again I find myself looking to Manchester City and Ilkay Gundogan. The German seems to come alive at the business end of the season and pop up with critical goals as he masters every third of the field and his involvement within them.
Ironically Arsenal have been tipped with having an interest in Gundogan whose contract expires in the summer. Another Man City player rocking up in north London maybe?
However Arteta chooses to move forward what is clear is that Arsenal does need the role to be at the fulcrum of progression in the team. Supporting Martin Odegaard who continues to go from strength to strength and work with both Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing and Oleksandr Zinchenko in the hybrid full-back position.
Xhaka, meanwhile, has surely got more to give and Xabi Alonso might be the man to extend his career at the top level. I know I will be watching with both interest and support and thankfully Bayer Leverkusen’s failure to make the Champions League hopefully avoids a nasty reunion.
From a purely personal perspective, I'd like to share a short story. New to this role my first ever experience speaking to an Arsenal player was with Granit Xhaka.
At London Colney, the question I asked as an amateur, brimming with confidence and arrogance was shot down by the midfielder. Stunned and a little embarrassed as the Q&A concluded I politely approached Xhaka as he was leaving, he shook my hand and explained in a very Xhaka-esque way why my question had got no answer.
At the time I was gutted. My first chance at asking a question to an Arsenal player was gone and it was nothing like I imagined; I thought it was all a waste.
Xhaka made me a better journalist and I thank him for it. Now, I hope whoever comes in, can take Xhaka’s role further, and that is going to be a very difficult task; a testament to the man who has filled it.
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