{"id":296455,"date":"2023-11-14T09:09:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T09:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=296455"},"modified":"2023-11-14T09:09:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T09:09:12","slug":"xhaka-shows-arsenal-what-theyre-missing-to-leave-arteta-searching-for-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/soccer\/xhaka-shows-arsenal-what-theyre-missing-to-leave-arteta-searching-for-answer\/","title":{"rendered":"Xhaka shows Arsenal what they’re missing to leave Arteta searching for answer"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Arsenal and Granit Xhaka mutually decided it was time for him to leave the club at the end of last season following seven up-and-down seasons in north London. But the midfielder has since shown the Gunners what they are missing to leave Mikel Arteta scratching his head.<\/p>\n

Xhaka was much-maligned during his spell at Arsenal and only really became a fan favourite in his final campaign at the club. After two previous managers had failed to do so, Arteta finally found his best position as a left-sided No 8.<\/p>\n

Arsenal flourished as Xhaka bowed out with his best season in terms of goals and assists. He scored nine times in all competitions, setting up his team-mates on seven occasions.<\/p>\n

He had come a long way from the player who was booed off in October 2019 and then stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery. Xhaka attempted to leave on multiple occasions but Arteta kept convincing him to stay.<\/p>\n

Read more… <\/strong> Cole Palmer risks wrath of Man City supporters as Chelsea star makes revelation<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He wasn’t able to do so at the end of last season and the Gunners boss may now be regretting that. Xhaka returned to Germany to sign for Bayer Leverkusen after having a spell at Borussia Monchengladbach earlier in his career.<\/p>\n

Leverkusen have started the season on fire and Xhaka has contributed to that. Xabi Alonso’s side sit top of the Bundesliga, with 10 wins from their 11 games, two points clear of Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n

Xhaka is yet to score for his new club and has just one assist. But it is sometimes the statistics that go under the radar that are most impressive.<\/p>\n

According to CBS Sports, Xhaka has made 129 passes into the final third this season. That tally is the most of any player in Europe’s top seven leagues.<\/p>\n