Arsenal are top of the Premier League table following their win over Brighton last weekend (Picture: Getty)
Granit Xhaka is set to make an emotional return to Arsenal and will attend their home fixture against West Ham next weekend.
The Switzerland international spent seven years in north London and enjoyed his best ever season last term as the Gunners came within five points of pipping Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Given his influence in helping the team qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016, it was a surprise that Xhaka pushed for a departure and a return to the Bundesliga.
Despite Arsenal thriving in his absence, Xhaka’s decision to join Bayer Leverkusen has been vindicated with the 31-year-old playing a pivotal role in the unbeaten start Xabi Alonso’s side has made to the campaign.
Xhaka’s move was concluded so swiftly that he was not given time to say an emotional farewell to his former teammates and the supporters who had taken him to their hearts, but that will be rectified on December 28 when Arsenal entertain the Hammers.
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‘It will be our chance to say goodbye to the players, the staff and the supporters properly,’ he told The Athletic.
On the speculation that his wife, Leonita, was the driving force behind his decision to leave Arsenal, he added: ‘To be honest, she was against it.
‘Not against us going to Leverkusen, but against us leaving London. If you’ve lived in London once, you want to stay there – especially with the family.’
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Xhaka’s relationship with Arsenal appeared to heading for a bitter divorce shortly before Mikel Arteta’s arrival following a bust-up with his own fans during a draw with Crystal Palace.
After being stripped of the captaincy, it was Arteta who persuaded Xhaka to remain but the experienced midfielder still has mixed feelings over the incident.
‘I had many black days, sitting in my hotel room for away games, realising what had happened,’ he said.
‘I didn’t want them [my family] to feel bad, because they were more worried about me than I was was. Perhaps they also wanted to protect me & not bring back those thoughts, but I was completely devastated.’
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