Mikel Arteta said Granit Xhaka had made him a “better coach” as the Arsenal manager prepares to lock horns with the Sunderland captain on Saturday.
Midfielder Xhaka returned to the Premier League in July with newly promoted Sunderland after a two-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen following his 2023 departure from Emirates Stadium.
The Swiss international, 33, had some rocky times during his seven-year spell at Arsenal.
He was stripped of the captaincy by Arteta’s predecessor Unai Emery following an angry confrontation with home fans at a match in October 2019.
But Arteta mended bridges with the player after arriving at the club two months later.
“I loved every minute that we spent together,” the Spaniard said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“When I joined, he was in a special moment in his life and career and between all of us, we tried to guide him, give him a different perspective, and make him feel loved and valued.
“He responded in an incredible way. He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club, and I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him.”
