Granit Xhaka chose to remain at Arsenal following a frank discussion with Mikel Arteta upon his return as head coach.

The Swiss international is set to face his old club, Sunderland, on Saturday evening, an encounter that will undoubtedly stir memories of his time in north London. The 33-year-old had a seven-year stint with the Gunners, during which he earned the captain's armband and became a regular fixture in the matchday squad.

However, his relationship with the club began to deteriorate towards the end of his Arsenal career under Unai Emery, and it seemed increasingly likely that he would make an early exit. Upon Arteta's arrival in December 2019, Xhaka confessed he was gearing up to depart the club and it would be challenging to sway his decision.

In a 2022 interview with The Players Tribune, the Swiss international said: "As we all know, I was left out of the squad and lost the captaincy.

"When Mikel was appointed in December, I told him that I...