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Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal Claim Sparks Anger Amongst Sunderland Fans

Originally posted on Sunderland on SI | By Nazario Assad | Last updated Nov 14, 2025 5:00 AM ET

Granit Xhaka arrived this season at Sunderland as the main signing of the team, bringing the Premier League experience and quality to the squad. Unfortunately, there is some history with Arsenal that he has not forgotten, and the fans may resent him for this.

Xhaka has become the cornerstone of the new Sunderland era in the Premier League, where they have arrived most fashionably by getting right out of the Championship to fight for the European places, side by side with the Big Six.

The Le Bris project at the Stadium of Light has glowed and surprised most football fans all around the world, and Xhaka has been key to that.

Brought as a veteran solution for an inexperienced roster, the Swiss performance at the club has excelled, delivering elite performances and showing that age does not matter when quality and work ethic blend.

However, when everything was supposed to be happiness and over the clouds for the Black Cats, Xhaka came across some unfortunate words about a Sunderland rival at the top of the Premier League.

The Swiss message was not only awful regarding the timing, but it was also the content of his saying that has every Sunderland fan disappointed and worried about what is coming up next for the club.

Arsenal and the Love Story That Jeopardise Xhaka’s Status at Sunderland

Even though Granit’s arrival at Sunderland did not come directly from Arsenal, it was from Bayer Leverkusen. However, for Granit, there seems to be some unsolved business with the Gunners, and his feelings towards them will not help his time with the Black Cats.

“Everyone knows Arsenal is in my heart”, Xhaka said in a fashion that will not please the fans when Sunderland is currently fighting for the Premier League title against them.

If those words were not enough for the Swiss midfielder to hurt the Black Cats fanbase, what he added about the Gunners will definitely crush more than one heart at the Stadium of Light.

“I still support them... I’m still watching the Arsenal games. The football club deserves trophies. I hope they can do it this year”, Granit concluded.

After their 2-2 dramatic draw before the international break, Arsenal and Sunderland still have a match against each other to be played during the next semester, and it will be at Emirates Stadium, where it will be interesting to watch how they receive Xhaka after these words.

This article first appeared on Sunderland on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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