Arsenal have still not announced that Granit Xhaka has signed a new deal, despite being half out the door to Roma all summer, even though the player and owner have confirmed it.
That Granit Xhaka was still at Arsenal by the summer of 2021 was quite remarkable in itself, given the problems he had with the fanbase, never mind a football, something he reminded us all about on Saturday as he flew into a needless challenge and got himself sent off.
Over the summer, it looked like Xhaka’s time had finally come to an end when Roma tried to buy him and he agreed a deal with the Italians. But their reluctance to pay a decent fee for him meant Arsenal refused to sell.
Now, they have moved to protect their investment.
Stan Kroenke confirmed Xhaka’s contract extension in his programme notes ahead of the game against Chelsea last week, while it was reported in the press weeks before that it had been signed.
Xhaka then posted about it on social media which Arsenal shared, adding ‘congratulations’, but, as for an official announcement on Arsenal.com like we usually get? Nothing.
It’s telling that there has been no fanfare over his new deal, and, if the club were hoping an ideal moment might present itself in the near future, that horse bolted at the Eithad this weekend.
- Manchester, England, 28th August 2021. Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is shown a red card by referee Martin Atkinson during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture credit should read: Darren Staples / Sportimage
- Manchester City v Arsenal – Premier League – Etihad Stadium Arsenals Granit Xhaka walks past manager Mikel Arteta after being sent off during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday August 28, 2021. Copyright: Nick Potts
- LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal grabs Ashley Westwood of Burnley round the throat and is subsequently shown a red card and sent off after a VAR check during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on December 13, 2020 (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- Granit Xhaka vs Burnley
- Referee Graham Scott shows the red card to send off Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 13, 2020. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is substituted off for Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being substituted off during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019, in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being substituted off during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal (c) argues with Rob Holding of Arsenal (L) during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal in conversation at full-time during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on February 23, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
- SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 21: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Arsenal FC at Bramall Lane on October 21, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
- ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Arsenal Training Session at London Colney on September 12, 2019 in St Albans, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- Burnley v Arsenal – Premier League – Turf Moor Arsenal s Granit Xhaka looks dejected during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley. Picture date: Saturday March 6, 2021. Copyright: Peter Powell
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 13: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal look on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on December 13, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 12: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is fouled by Michael Hector of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage on September 12, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Childs – Pool/Getty Images)
- Asenal’s Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) celebrates with Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)
- Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette (L) celebrates with Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (R) after scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London on July 15, 2020. (Photo by Shaun Botterill / POOL / AFP)
- Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium in London on July 1, 2020. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON / POOL / AFP)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal applauds after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on September 30, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
- FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 19: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal applauds the fans after the UEFA Europa League group F match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Arsenal FC at on September 19, 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Bongarts/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- NORWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 01: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal FC at Carrow Road on December 01, 2019 in Norwich, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 29: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal takes a corner kick during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 02: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal celebrates his team’s victory after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 07: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Nacho Monreal of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 7, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Granit Xhaka Arsenal stats before 21/22
- Games: 220
- Starts: 206
- Subbed on: 14
- Subbed off: 33
- Minutes: 18,243 (average 83 mins per game)
- Goals: 13
- Assists: 20
- Yellow cards: 58 (1 every 3.79 games)
- Direct red cards: 3
- Two-yellow red cards: 0
- Most touches in the Premier League 2017/18 (3,491)
- Most passes into the final third in the Premier League 2017/18 (374)
- Second for progressive passes in the Premier League 2017/18 (311)
- Second most yellow cards in the Premier League 2017/18 (10)
- Second most successful dribble percentage in the Premier League 2019/20 (84.4%)
Granit Xhaka 21/22
- Games: 4
- Starts: 3
- Subbed on: 1
- Subbed off: 1
- Minutes: 282 (average mins 70.5 per game)
- Goals: 0
- Assists: 0
- Yellow cards: 0
- Direct red cards: 1
- Two-yellow red cards: 0