Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal midfielder now playing for Sunderland, gave an exclusive interview looking back on his turbulent career with the Gunners, particularly the infamous substitution incident in 2019 and how Mikel Arteta helped transform his career.
Looking back at your furious reaction after being substituted against Crystal Palace in October 2019 – including provoking fans after being booed and throwing your jersey – what do you think of it now?
Xhaka: Everyone knows what happened between me and the fans in 2019, and I still call it a huge misunderstanding to this day. I have no idea why it all happened, but there’s a story behind it. In that moment, one eye was filled with sadness, but the other saw an enormous challenge – thinking about how I could come back, how I could earn the right to wear the Arsenal jersey again. Not everyone wanted me to put it on again back then, and I even doubted it myself, but staying was the first decision I made purely for myself.
What role did Mikel Arteta play in your transformation?
Xhaka: Honestly, Mikel is the one who turned my career around. He made me who I am today. I’m incredibly grateful. I’d never made a decision without consulting my family before, but after two conversations with him, I said “yes, I’m staying” without even asking my wife. I wanted to face this huge challenge head-on. What we achieved at Arsenal after 2019 was incredible.
Do you think your time at Arsenal had a fitting ending?
Xhaka: I wanted to leave on a high note. In my final game, I scored twice against Wolves, the fans chanted my name and begged me to stay. It was sad, but it was a wonderful way to say goodbye. I’m still proud that I came back from that 2019 low – that doesn’t happen every day. I went through a lot of struggles, but they’re all part of my journey.
