Arsenal fans in awe after Granit Xhaka debut for Sunderland – ‘Midfield general’
Granit Xhaka made his highly anticipated debut for Sunderland in the superb 3-0 win against West Ham at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Xhaka was an eye-catching signing for Sunderland, given his exploits for Bayer Leverkusen, Switzerland, and Arsenal.
His former teammate Nordi Mukiele is set to join Regis Le Bris’ side, showing that his influence goes far beyond the pitch.
Now, fans of former club Arsenal have reacted to the 32-year-old’s debut in the Premier League following a statement Sunderland performance.
Arsenal supporters impressed with Xhaka exploits
Xhaka captained Sunderland on his competitive debut for the Black Cats, taking over from Dan Neil.
The Swiss international was involved in the early stages and was handed set-piece duties by Le Bris.
Xhaka reminded supporters of his gritty side by landing a crunching challenge on Lucas Paqueta.
As the match progressed, the 32-year-old continued to influence the game and allowed Le Bris’ attackers to thrive in the final third.
| Granit Xhaka’s statistics vs West Ham | Total |
| Minutes | 90 |
| Distance covered | 11.2km |
| Touches | 62 |
| Accurate passes | 37/50 (74%) |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Ground duels (won) | 7 (3) |
Of course, other players stole the headlines, with Dan Ballard topping off a phenomenal Sunderland performance with his headed goal.
While Xhaka may have gone under the radar amid the flood of goals on Wearside, his performance was recognised on social media by those in North London.
Read more: Sunderland player ratings vs West Ham: Dan Ballard stars, 4/10 average
Xhaka can guide Regis Le Bris’ young side to Premier League survival
In Xhaka, Sunderland not only have a top player, but they also have one of the best leaders in World football.
The Switzerland international looked assured in the hub of Le Bris’ midfield and went about his business assuredly.
Sunderland face a long season and will need the experienced players within their squad to take the pressure off in key moments.
Xhaka will be the man to do that, and against West Ham, he showed why he was so sought after.
Furthermore, when the Black Cats meet Newcastle United, he could be the defining factor for the Wearsiders.
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