Granit Xhaka wows pundit after ‘disaster’ as Sunderland continue to shock
Granit Xhaka’s importance to Sunderland and their hugely-impressive return to the top flight has been hailed by a stunned Martin Keown.
The Swiss international returned to the Premier League with the Black Cats this summer after a very successful period at Bayer Leverkusen.
His previous time in England with Arsenal saw him targeted by fans at times, but his role under Regis Le Bris has been central to the run of form that sees Sunderland sitting fourth heading into November.
Keown can’t believe Xhaka was allowed to leave the Bundesliga side, considering it a “disaster” for the Germans.
Martin Keown hugely impressed by veteran Granit Xhaka
Ex-Arsenal star Keown has highlighted the importance of Xhaka’s spell at the Emirates to Le Bris’ side, with the club back in the Premier League after nearly a decade away, while expressing his awe at quite how involved the midfielder is in directing those around him.
“They don’t look out of place”, said host Jim White during a discussion live on talkSPORT in the wake of Sunderland’s 2-1 win at Chelsea last weekend, with Xhaka against excellent at Stamford Bridge.
Keown replied: “Not at all. Not at all. And this is where I want to make a shout-out Granit Xhaka here, because when he was at Arsenal there was one or two that liked him but others didn’t.
“Bayer Leverkusen let him go. He was an invincible at Leverkusen. [Erik] Ten Hag was involved and let him go, I mean that was a disaster, but massive news for Sunderland.
“When you see him on the pitch… if there was no sound you were hear him, he’s barking instructions at everybody, he’s telling everyone to calm down, ‘keep the ball when we need to, get forward when we need to’.
“I’ve never seen a player so involved, so instrumental. I think you get in the Premier League, you’ve got to have Premier League experience around you.”
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Surprise signing paying off in big way at Stadium of Light
Sunderland have capitalised on Xabi Alonso’s departure from Leverkusen seeing his previously all-conquering side broken up.
Florian Wirtz’s mega-money move to Liverpool was supposed to be the biggest Premier League capture from that side, but so far Xhaka has had a greater impact than the German, or fellow Reds signing Jeremie Frimpong.
After his experiences with Arsenal and the highs of the German double at Leverkusen it might have seemed a surprising move for the 33-year-old to opt for the Stadium of Light.
But Xhaka has been ever present in the Premier League after being made captain by Le Bris and his buy-in looks beyond doubt.
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