Rio Ferdinand has suggested that one player has matured considerably since leaving Arsenal and barely ever makes a bad decision now.
Mikel Arteta and Edu have got very little wrong in the transfer market over the last few years; even their controversial decisions have often been vindicated. But perhaps they may wonder if they made the right decision selling one player in 2023.
Arsenal sold Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth just over £21 million after a turbulent time at the Emirates. It appeared to be a smart move with Xhaka linked with a move away for most of the previous few years, even coming incredibly close to joining Roma after Euro 2020 three years ago.
Xhaka managed to win over his doubters and become a fan favourite before leaving for Bayer Leverkusen. He would go on to enjoy an incredible season in Germany, and is now helping Switzerland shine at Euro 2024.
Rio Ferdinand lauds Granit Xhaka after Euro 2024 win
Their latest win came on Saturday as they knocked holders Italy out and booked their quarter-final spot. Xhaka was superb in the game, and speaking on BBC One, Rio Ferdinand insisted that the midfielder’s game has now gone to another level.
“At Arsenal, he showed glimpses of this, but with Bayer Leverkusen and now Switzerland, he showed real maturity. He breaks the lines and finds the passes,” he said.
“He makes the right decisions 99% of the time. There was a real dominance in his performance, he’s a leader in this team and you can see that in every part of his game right now.”
Arsenal will surely wish midfielder had stayed one more year
When Xhaka left, it felt like the right decision for all parties as his redemption arc at the Emirates appeared to be complete, and it would have been a shame had he stayed and jeopardised that.
However, there were times last season when Arsenal appeared to miss him. Declan Rice was such a brilliant signing, but it is one area of the squad where the Gunners are potentially a little light.
No-one can look at the last 12 months and suggest that Xhaka would not have been extremely useful to Arsenal last season.