Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit and boss Mikel Arteta are both of the belief that Granit Xhaka is deserving of his superb form at the moment, three years on from the lowest point of his career.
It was arguably the single most infamous, toxic moment the Emirates Stadium has witnessed in its 16 years of existence.
Xhaka, Arsenal's then-club captain was hauled off after an average showing against Crystal Palace on a typical rain-sodden October afternoon in north London. The general mood around the place at the time was low due to a poor run of form under Unai Emery, but few could have foreseen what was about to come.
With Xhaka's number showing on the fourth official's electronic board, the Emirates burst into a chorus of sarcastic jeers as fans voiced their disappointment with the midfielder's display.
In response, the Switzerland international bit back, cupping his ears as he goaded his own fans while clearly muttering obscenities in their direction, only increasing the rage from the supporters on the terraces. He barely glanced at Emery as he stormed off, throwing his shirt to the ground and heading straight down the tunnel.
Many of those in attendance and watching at home could have been forgiven for thinking that was the last we had seen of Xhaka in Arsenal colours. He has previously said so himself, telling the Players Tribune that his "bags were packed and the passports were out."
Then Mikel Arteta intervened. The Spaniard succeeded Emery at the helm and managed to convince Xhaka to give him just six more months in January 2020. If he wanted to leave for Hertha Berlin after that, he'd have the boss' blessing.
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Fast forward to October 2022, exactly three years since that memorable meltdown and Xhaka is one of the first names on the Arsenal teamsheet, undeniably playing the best football he ever has in a Gunners shirt.
His redemption arch has been nothing short of incredible. To say it's been all an upward trajectory from the day of that outburst to now wouldn't exactly be painting the full picture, there have been more foolish red cards and costly errors, but Xhaka has managed to restore his bond with the Arsenal faithful.
Ex-Arsenal star Petit knows what it takes to play in midfield for the Gunners and has heaped praise on the previously much-maligned Xhaka, dubbing him the "symbol of Arsenal" under Arteta.
The Frenchman told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "He's (Arteta) completely transformed so many players, as well. The first name that springs to mind for me is Granit Xhaka.
"He's a survivor. The difference in him compared to where he was a couple of years ago; it's night and day, it's ice and fire. For me, he's the definition of what it takes to be a sportsman.
"This guy had both knees on the floor, his head down and his time at the club looked to be over. The way he's come back from that, and the way he's almost reinvented his game, for me he's the symbol of Arsenal Football Club under Mikel Arteta."
Xhaka has been operating at a fantastic level in truth since the back end of last year, but the current campaign has seen the former Borussia Monchengladbach man hit heights few other than maybe Arteta and himself could have predicted him reaching.
The 30-year-old seems to have finally added goals to his game and is sitting on four strikes across all competitions this term, something that prompted praise from his boss last week.
"He deserves that," Arteta said after Xhaka's third of the season against PSV Eindhoven. "He has faced adversity in difficult moments, he has put his arm up when he had something different to do, his work ethic, the way he is as a person, the way he treats everyone around the club, and the love for this football club and profession is unquestionable.
"He fully deserves that and I'm really happy to see him enjoying his career. He’s been extremely open and his work rate all the time to learn is fantastic, and now I think it's paying off."
Since those comments, Xhaka bagged himself another goal in the 1-1 draw away at Southampton. After years of Arsenal struggle, the midfielder is playing as if he's making up for lost time.
