Mikel Arteta has revealed the truth behind Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal exit ahead of his reunion with the player against Sunderland on Saturday.

Xhaka helped Arteta win his first major trophy as Arsenal boss with the FA Cup triumph in 2020 before he joined Bayer Leverkusen three years later.

The 33-year-old is back in the Premier League after moving to Sunderland in July, which Arteta has called ‘one of the best’ summer signings.

Sunderland have enjoyed a fine start to the season following promotion last term, with Regis Le Bris’ side fourth in the table after 10 games.

‘I loved every minute that we spent together,’ Arteta said about Xhaka in his pre-match press conference on Friday before Sunderland host Arsenal.

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‘When I joined, he was in a special moment of his life and his career, and between all of us, we tried to guide him, to give him a different perspective, to...