Overview
- In a new interview, Granit Xhaka described Mikel Arteta’s first-day chair exercise to turn “chaos” into order, crediting the manager’s standards for reshaping the squad’s mentality.
- Regis Le Bris has labeled Xhaka “a second coach on the pitch,” with the 33-year-old now captaining Sunderland after his summer arrival.
- Xhaka leads Premier League midfielders for interceptions and ranks first in the league for distance covered, and he is Sunderland’s chief set-piece taker.
- He returned to England in a £12m move and has a goal and three assists, including this week’s late equaliser against Everton and decisive contributions versus Brentford, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
- Sunderland are fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind Arsenal, with the teams set to meet at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening.