Arsenal legend Robert Pires has left Granit Xhaka out of a combined XI pick in favour of one of his former teammates.
Granit Xhaka ended his Arsenal career on a high.
The Swiss midfielder was in fine form for the Gunners last season, as he was handed a more advanced role in the side by Mikel Arteta. Xhaka responded to his new tactical instructions by racking up nine goals and seven assists.
Despite this impressive return, the Gunners still opted to move the midfielder on in the last summer transfer window. The 31-year-old joined Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth around £21 million.
This move brought the curtain down on Xhaka’s time in North London, with him having made just shy of 300 appearances for the club, and having won two FA Cups.
Did Mikel Arteta fail to replace Granit Xhaka at Arsenal?
Kai Havertz was brought to Arsenal to replace Xhaka, with Arteta initially envisioning a midfield role for the German. However, the former Chelsea man went on to establish himself as a striker at the Emirates Stadium. The hole that Xhaka’s departure left in the Arsenal squad arguably still remains unfilled.
Meanwhile, the 123-cap Switzerland international has gone on to achieve great things in Germany. He played a key role for Xabi Alonso’s side as they won a league and cup double. Bayer Leverkusen even went unbeaten throughout their entire domestic campaign.
This feat compares with what Arsenal achieved in the 2003/04 season, when they won the Premier League title without losing a single game. That Arsenal side earned the Invincibles nickname. Then-manager Arsene Wenger was recently named the greatest of all time by Jack Wilshere due to this feat.
Robert Pires picks Arsenal icon Gilberto Silva over Granit Xhaka
Robert Pires was a key player for the Gunners when they attained their invincible status.
Speaking to John Nellis on Instagram, the Frenchman was asked to name a combined XI made up of players from the Arsenal Invincibles squad and the current Bayer Leverkusen side. When it came to choosing who should play in the middle of the park, the former winger opted for Gilberto Silva over Xhaka.
Gilberto was a vital player for the Invincibles, as he brought steel to the spine of the team. The Brazilian made 32 appearances for the Gunners that season, as Wenger relied upon him heavily to protect the back four, alongside Patrick Vieira.
Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes recently described Gilberto as a “phenomenon.”