REGRETS? Mikel Arteta has had very few during his Arsenal tenure – especially when it comes to moving on players.
Bad eggs have had their contracts ripped up. Think Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil.
Ageing stars have been allowed to leave on a free. Think Willian, David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac.
Money has also been made to make way for the future. Think Emiliano Martinez, Bernd Leno, Folarin Balogun and Emile Smith Rowe.
And yet, there is perhaps one goodbye that is still on the mind of Arteta on the eve of an intriguing North London reunion this week – Granit Xhaka.
Ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Emirates Cup clash with the Gunners tomorrow, the Switzerland international will play at his old stomping ground for the first time since last summer’s £21.4m move back to Germany.
Xhaka – who signed for Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in May 2016 for £30m – returns with a Bundesliga title to his name having played a starring role in an unbeaten domestic campaign under boss Xabi Alonso.
In contrast, Arteta’s Arsenal fell short in their Premier League title push for a second successive term behind Manchester City – the most recent without Xhaka in their ranks.
Would Xhaka’s leadership and experience have made the difference?
It has hard to say, but it is a debate that has gained momentum following his stunning performances for the Swiss at the Euros that had German outlets calling for a Ballon d’Or nomination.
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There is no doubt that Arteta lost one of his most important dressing room generals, one that demanded excellence, acted as a perfect go-between from dug-out to pitch, and one whose own renaissance in an Arsenal shirt sums up the Spanish coach’s impact at the club.
Arteta and Arsenal were torn over the future of Xhaka towards the end of the 2022/23 season – a player who had transformed into an integral cog in a more advanced midfield role.
They did not want him to leave, but unwilling to hand a long-term deal to a 30-year-old as they planned for a window that included the £105m capture of a 24-year-old Declan Rice.
With 12 months left on his deal, with a club-option to extend, Arsenal and Xhaka decided to part ways after a sit-down chat with sporting director Edu.
The midfielder said recently: “I was a bit sad, but also quite happy because I didn’t like that uncertainty.
“The length of the Leverkusen contract [five years] gives me security. I’m not someone who likes to play poker… I like peace and order.”
Xhaka will likely receive a grand reception back at the Emirates, much like the one he had on his 297th and final appearance for the club, scoring twice in a 5-0 victory over Wolves in May 2023 before being subbed to a standing ovation.
Four years earlier, those same fans had booed him off in the 61st minute of a draw at home to Crystal Palace in October 2019.
Upon leaving the pitch, Xhaka told them to “f**k off” and stormed down the tunnel, an incident that saw him stripped of the captaincy by then-manager Unai Emery.
Two months later, Emery was sacked and Arteta was in, with convincing Xhaka to stay one of the first tasks the former midfielder set himself.
Xhaka explained: “When I met [Mikel] for the first time, my bags were already packed and I was about to hop on a plane. With my heart and soul, I had already left the club.
“The club showed me little respect even though I was the captain. It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, apart from one person: Mikel Arteta.”
Ignoring the advice of his friends and family, Xhaka stayed.
Arteta would then bring about a career revival that no one saw coming, not least the Arsenal faithful.
Xhaka added: “Arsenal supporters sometimes can take a bit of persuading to change their minds. But at the end, I won them around.”
Arteta also owes much to Xhaka, a player he could rely on during the tough times and who stepped up and raised his game in the good times.
It could be argued that Arsenal’s midfield is all the better for Xhaka leaving. Rice and skipper Martin Odegaard are a formidable pair with Jorginho and Thomas Partey adding the extras.
But Arteta had a bond with Xhaka that is hard to replace. How he would love to still be able to call upon his services, even if the player himself would not accept a role from the bench.
Of all the players he has let go, Arteta has rarely issued an emotional farewell statement, but for Xhaka he did, saying: “We are saying goodbye to a fantastic player and person loved by all of us.
“It has been an incredible journey for him and he has given absolutely everything.
“We cannot thank Granit enough for his service and contribution to this club over the years.”
Xhaka returned to the Emirates as a supporter last December to witness Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham, signing autographs from his car on arrival.
Yet this time, he will be granted a welcome home from out of the shadows, even after a recent cheeky remark where he stated leaving Arsenal was a “step forward” in his career.
He still is an avid watcher of Arsenal games, and remains in contact with assistant coach Carlos Cuesta and old teammates Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.
Expect a warm embrace of Arteta tomorrow too – the man who no doubt wishes Xhaka’s Arsenal story did not have to end so soon.
