Arteta reveals who elevated his coaching career

At the press conference prior to the Sunderland match in the 11th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged that Granit Xhaka was the one who boosted his career, and he has always been thankful to the Swiss midfielder until now.

Ranked lowest among the three promoted teams this season, Sunderland surprisingly caused a stir by not only surpassing Leeds and Burnley but also having a chance to compete for the championship Premier League currently. After 10 rounds, Sunderland is in 4th place with 18 points, ahead of major clubs like Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

In Sunderland's remarkable journey, Granit Xhaka has made the greatest contribution. Joining Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen with the reason ‘needing to endure hardships to pursue a coaching career,’ it was actually Xhaka who elevated the whole team from relegation survival goals to title contenders. Sunderland’s head coach Le Bris admitted that Xhaka raised the standards for the entire squad.

At the press conference before the Sunderland match in the 11th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta expressed his pride in his former player. In fact, Arteta showed gratitude towards Xhaka by saying that the Swiss midfielder was the one who elevated his coaching career:

“I cherished every moment I spent with Xhaka. When I joined the team, he was at a special phase in his life and career. We all tried to lead the team, help Xhaka see things differently, and make him feel loved and valued. And Xhaka responded to me in an incredible way. He made me a better coach, helping us develop and improve greatly, both as a team and as a club. I will forever be grateful to him for the wonderful memories we shared together.

When asked why Xhaka left Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, Coach Arteta admitted that Xhaka needed to be closer to his family at that time:

“We had renewed his contract before, but when Xhaka came to explain his reasons for leaving, I understood that I had to empathize with him. This was a special opportunity for him to return to Germany, be near his family, and experience things he wanted. I believe it was the right moment. He was honest and straightforward as always, and we found a solution that satisfied both sides.”

At the same time, Arteta confirmed that Xhaka was one of the best signings last summer, and Sunderland's current achievements are not too surprising for the Spanish strategist:

“Given his current impact, Xhaka is among the best signings of this summer, I have to say that. I think what Sunderland has accomplished in recent years is truly impressive, from their management and decision-making to the stability they show, especially how they started this season. All of it is very commendable.

I am not surprised by Sunderland’s current performance. When you analyze them, see their organization, flexibility in adjustments, and fighting spirit in the squad, Sunderland’s current position is fully deserved. We know exactly the type of match we will face, where the opportunities lie, and what we must do well to defeat them, and that is what we will strive to do.”

Currently, Arsenal leads the Premier League table, 7 points ahead of Sunderland. Although Arsenal is favored with an 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, facing Sunderland away will pose some challenges for Arteta’s team.

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