It’s been quite a while since Sunderland last played in the English Premier League. The Black Cats, however, for the 2025-26 are back in the top-flight after sealing a dramatic promotion against Sheffield United in the Championship Playoff, thanks to a late Tom Watson goal.

And like every other newly-promoted team, Sunderland are looking to strengthen their squad to fight it out with English Football’s best. They have their eyes set on a former Arsenal vet, who is expected to make a shock return to the English Premier League.

The veteran in question? Granit Xhaka. The 32-year-old Swiss midfielder, who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen, and is one of their key midfielders, might once again return to the country where he spent 7 long years.

With Xhaka’s move to Sunderland looking a real possibility, here is a look at Arsenal’s starting XI the last time he played against ‘The Black Cats.’

Arsenal last faced off against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup Quarterfinals with Granit Xhaka as a substitute

It was the Carabao Cup quarterfinals back in the 2021-22 season. On the 21st of December, 2021, Mikel Arteta fielded a rather strong side, with Bernd Leno in goal. Rob Holding and Ben White were the centre-backs. It was White’s first year at the North London club, having arrived from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Cedric and Nuno Tavares were the full-backs, with Mohamed Elneny being the holding midfielder. Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe were at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking midfield, with Nicolas Pepe and Folarin Balogun on the flanks. Up-front was Eddie Nketiah.

Xhaka who was on the bench, came on for Balogun in the 56th minute of the game. It is worth noting that Ben White and Martin Odegaard are the only players who started that evening are still at the club.

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Arsenal Earned A Thumping 5-1 Win Over Sunderland

Arsenal put on a rampant display that evening at The Emirates. An Eddie Nketiah hattrick, a Nicolas Pepe goal midway past the first half and a late Charlie Patino goal sealed the deal for the Gunners. For Sunderland, it was Nathan Broadhead who struck in the 31st minute.

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Sunderland are interested in signing Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen, with the newly promoted Premier League club exploring a move for the former Arsenal midfielder. For a player who left England amid mixed reviews, this potential homecoming represents the ultimate redemption story.

Arsenal: The Highs and Lows

Xhaka’s seven-year Arsenal tenure was a tale of two narratives. The Swiss international made nearly 300 appearances and won two FA Cups, serving as captain during crucial periods. Yet his Premier League experience was punctuated by moments of controversy – red cards, defensive lapses, and that infamous incident with supporters that saw him stripped of the captaincy.

His passing range was never questioned, nor his commitment, but critics pointed to his lack of pace and occasional recklessness. The perception lingered that Xhaka was a player better suited to continental football than the Premier League’s intensity (probably excluding the 2022-23 season).

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The Leverkusen Transformation

In 2023, he returned to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, helping the club to their first-ever league title in his debut season. Under Xabi Alonso’s guidance, Xhaka didn’t just find form – he became transformational. The veteran has emerged as the beating heart of Bayer Leverkusen’s team, with everything going through the midfielder who has Die Werkself ticking like a Swiss watch.

The statistics tell a compelling story. At Leverkusen, Xhaka has evolved into the complete deep-lying playmaker. His pass completion rate improved to 89.2% in the Bundesliga, while his progressive passes per game increased by 23% compared to his final Arsenal season. More importantly, his disciplinary record improved dramatically – just three yellow cards in his debut campaign compared to his Arsenal average of seven per season.

Bayer Leverkusen are Bundesliga champions for the first time, and Granit Xhaka sits right at the heart of their success story. The Swiss international’s transformation from Arsenal misfit to Bundesliga champion represents one of modern football’s most remarkable reinventions.

The Premier League Evolution

The Premier League Xhaka would return to has changed significantly since his 2023 departure. The league’s tactical sophistication has increased, with more teams employing possession-based systems that would suit his skill set. The frenetic pace that once exposed his limitations has given way to more structured, patient build-up play.

Modern Premier League midfielders are valued for their ability to dictate tempo and break lines with passing – precisely Xhaka’s strengths. Teams like Brighton and Brentford have shown that technical players can thrive when given the right tactical framework.

Perfect Sunderland Fit

Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Sunderland are ready to spend £100m on signings, suggesting serious ambition from the Black Cats. For a newly promoted side, Xhaka offers something invaluable: proven leadership and the ability to control games from deep positions.

Sunderland’s likely approach – emphasizing possession and patient build-up to survive in the Premier League – would suit Xhaka perfectly. His experience in high-pressure situations and ability to mentor younger players could prove crucial for a club adjusting to top-flight football.

The tactical fit is compelling. Modern Sunderland would likely deploy Xhaka in a double pivot, allowing him to showcase his passing range while providing defensive stability. His set-piece delivery and leadership qualities would address multiple needs simultaneously.

The Matured Player

At 32, Xhaka brings maturity that was absent during his Arsenal struggles. The midfielder has 137 caps for Switzerland and won the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen, accumulating experiences that have refined his approach. His Leverkusen performances demonstrate improved positional discipline and decision-making.

The reckless challenges that plagued his Arsenal career have largely disappeared. Instead, we see a player who understands when to press, when to drop, and how to manage games effectively. His leadership has evolved from vocal to tactical, setting traps and controlling phases of play.

Silencing the Doubters

Granit Xhaka has been offered a return to the Premier League by recently promoted Sunderland, who are interested in the former Arsenal captain. This isn’t just about signing a player; it’s about proving that talent, when properly utilized, can overcome early impressions.

For Xhaka, Sunderland represents the perfect platform to demonstrate his evolution. Success at the Stadium of Light would validate his transformation and prove that Premier League failure isn’t necessarily permanent. The doubters who questioned his suitability for English football might finally be silenced by a player who has learned to master his craft in Germany’s most demanding tactical environment.

The potential reunion between Xhaka and the Premier League could be football’s ultimate redemption story.

Arsenal have learned from their most painful academy mistake. Ethan Nwaneri’s new four-year contract extension, worth £60,000 per week, represents more than just financial commitment – it’s a strategic masterstroke designed to prevent another Serge Gnabry disaster.

The Gnabry Lesson That Still Stings

Serge Gnabry barely featured under Arsene Wenger and was dismissed by Tony Pulis during a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. Pulis claimed he wasn’t ready for top-flight football and “not good enough” for the Hawthorns. Yet within three years of leaving Arsenal, Gnabry had become a Bayern Munich star and Germany international, scoring 11 goals in 27 games for Werder Bremen before his permanent Bayern transfer.

The Gnabry saga exposed Arsenal’s fundamental flaw: failing to properly integrate promising academy graduates, leading to premature departures of potentially world-class talent.

The Pattern of Painful Departures

Gnabry isn’t isolated. Amario Cozier-Duberry and Reuell Walters recently joined Brighton and Luton Town after their contracts expired. Donyell Malen scored on his Netherlands debut after leaving Arsenal’s academy. The common thread? These players left because they couldn’t see clear pathways to first-team football or felt undervalued in contract negotiations.

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When Promise Doesn’t Deliver

Arsenal’s academy struggles aren’t only about early departures. Jeremie Aliadiere was part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad but never delivered on early hype, retiring by 29. Arturo Lupoli was labeled the next Italian ‘wonderkid’ but failed to make the grade. These examples highlight Arsenal’s historical struggle with academy development.

Nwaneri’s Deal: A Blueprint for Success

The Nwaneri contract addresses these historical failures through three key innovations:

Financial Security: The jump from £3,120 to £60,000 per week eliminates temptation to look elsewhere. This 19-fold increase demonstrates Arsenal’s commitment to retaining top talent.

Extended Timeline: The four-year deal with a fifth-year option provides stability and flexibility. Unlike previous short-term arrangements creating uncertainty, this gives Nwaneri security while allowing proper development planning.

Strategic Integration: At 18, Nwaneri is already integrated into Arteta’s first-team squad, contrasting sharply with the Gnabry era where promising youngsters languished on the periphery.

Arteta’s Academy Revolution

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have fundamentally changed their approach to academy integration. Players like Nwaneri represent the new generation being fast-tracked into senior football rather than languishing in development limbo.

The Nwaneri deal reflects this philosophical shift. Rather than hoping talented youngsters will patiently wait for opportunities, Arsenal are proactively securing futures while creating immediate progression pathways.

The Smart Financial Gamble

Some might question £60,000 per week for an 18-year-old, but consider the alternative: losing another generational talent like Gnabry, only to watch him flourish elsewhere while Arsenal spend £50 million trying to replace him.

Beyond the Headlines

This deal represents Arsenal’s institutional maturation. They’ve learned that talented academy players need more than opportunities – they need financial security, clear development plans, and genuine first-team integration.

The Nwaneri contract prevents another Gnabry scenario not through hope, but through strategic planning and substantial investment. It’s a masterstroke that could define Arsenal’s academy approach for years to come.

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