Cats captain: Arteta changed me completely

GRANIT Xhaka says two important conversations with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta have made him the player Sunderland fans see in action today.

- By MATTY HEWITT

The Swiss international spent seven years playing for the Gunners and holds the club close to his heart, but was infamously involved with an on-field spat with Arsenal supporters who cheered when he was substituted against Crystal Palace in October 2019.

He was stripped of the club's captaincy and his departure seemed inevitable under Unai Emery, before some divine intervention from Mikel Arteta, who took over from his fellow countryman in December 2019.

Reflecting on how Arteta rehabilitated him, the Black Cats skipper was full of admiration for the Arsenal manager. Speaking to The Athletic, he referred to the confrontation with supporters as a “misunderstanding.”

“It was bigger than that, absolutely, for sure. I don’t need to lie about it. Everyone knows the story. I still don’t know what exactly happened this day and why, let’s say that.