Granit Xhaka has never been one to mince words, and his latest interview proves that loyalty runs deeper than the pitch. The former Arsenal midfielder, now captain of Sunderland, has made it crystal clear: he wants his old club to win the Premier League title, and he believes Mikel Arteta's side "deserve" to end their 22-year drought.

Speaking to The Times, Xhaka opened up about the profound impact Arteta had on his career—and why he's still cheering for the Gunners. "Mikel is a very special person for me," Xhaka said. "Without him, I don't think I will be here, where we are sitting today. I started to learn football in a different way because of him. He prepares you so good that when you go on the pitch, you can really close your eyes and you know where the opponent is and you know where your teammate is."

It's a remarkable turnaround from a player whose Arsenal story nearly ended in disgrace. Back in 2019, under Unai Emery, Xhaka was substituted at the Emirates, took off his shirt and captain's armband, and walked straight down the tunnel—ignoring the boos from frustrated fans. That moment, he now admits, was a "darkness" that ultimately shaped him. "The darkness was only when I was alone, but it was a nice darkness because I learnt a lot from it," he reflected.

Arteta arrived later that year and made a bold decision: he kept Xhaka at the club. The manager's faith paid off, as the Swiss international became a key figure in the early stages of Arsenal's rebuild before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023. Now, watching from afar, Xhaka sees a team that has come full circle—from turmoil to title contenders. "I'm cheering for sure for Arsenal, but as well for the guys who deserved it all season. I think we can be very open: Arsenal deserve to win the title," he said.

Xhaka also shared a glimpse into his own future, revealing that both Xabi Alonso and Arteta have given him the same advice about his playing career. While he didn't spill the details, the message from two of football's sharpest minds is clear: the game keeps teaching, and for Xhaka, the lessons are far from over.