Granit Xhaka broke his own rules at Arsenal with honest Mikel Arteta conversation

Granit Xhaka spent seven years at Arsenal and will face his former club with Sunderland on Saturday night

Granit Xhaka chose to remain at Arsenal following a frank discussion with Mikel Arteta upon his return as head coach.

The Swiss international is set to face his old club, Sunderland, on Saturday evening, an encounter that will undoubtedly stir memories of his time in north London. The 33-year-old had a seven-year stint with the Gunners, during which he earned the captain's armband and became a regular fixture in the matchday squad.

However, his relationship with the club began to deteriorate towards the end of his Arsenal career under Unai Emery, and it seemed increasingly likely that he would make an early exit. Upon Arteta's arrival in December 2019, Xhaka confessed he was gearing up to depart the club and it would be challenging to sway his decision.

In a 2022 interview with The Players Tribune, the Swiss international said: "As we all know, I was left out of the squad and lost the captaincy.

"When Mikel was appointed in December, I told him that I wanted to leave. He understood completely. We had a second chat a few days later, and when I went in, I had talked it through with my wife. Our suitcases were literally placed by the door."

Then, in an unexpected turn of events, Xhaka admitted he "broke his own rules" by allowing Arteta to persuade him to commit to Arsenal's long-term vision. He said: "When I have made a decision like that, it is very difficult to change my mind.

"But then Mikel began to talk about how I was a big part of his plans. I liked his warmth. He was honest, straight. Clear plans. I felt I could trust him. He told me to give him six months to prove me wrong, and then if I still wanted to leave, no problem.

"Normally I spend a lot of time making these decisions. I talk to everyone around me, I weigh up the pros and cons. But that day I broke my own rules.

"I told Mikel, 'Ok.' I called my wife and my parents. 'We're staying.' They were like, "No way. "".

"I said, 'Yes. Unpack the bags. This is a new challenge. Either you are with me, or I'll go it alone, because I will go through with this.'"

After his honest conversation with Arteta, Xhaka remained at Arsenal for another four years, rejuvenating his career and winning the FA Cup and Community Shield during the 2019/20 campaign.

He subsequently departed for Bayer Leverkusen, securing the domestic treble in Germany and reaching the Europa League final in a remarkable season for the club.

He has now returned to the Premier League with newly-promoted Sunderland and has established himself as a key player for the Black Cats, earning the captain's armband under manager Regis Les Bris.

While Xhaka's attention will be entirely concentrated on securing all three points at home this weekend, he still undoubtedly holds affection for his former club as they prepare to take on the Swiss star's side at the Stadium of Light.