Granit Xhaka unfairly criticised after Arsenal exit | OneFootball

Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been accused of accepting ‘relegation in terms of sport’ after agreeing to join Bayer Leverkusen.

Following a seven-year absence, Xhaka’s return to the Bundesliga was confirmed barely 24 hours ago, but the Swiss midfielder has come under increased scrutiny for leaving Arsenal.

German journalist Christian Finkbeiner remains convinced that the experienced 30-year-old took the easy way out. However, as ludicrous opinions go, this one has broke new ground.

Leverkusen are a club looking to build on a rather impressive opening spell under the tutelage of Spanish tactician Xabi Alonso, and they did well to secure European football last season.

Arsenal’s summer business is enough evidence that Xhaka was no longer considered a prominent figure in the first team, and Leverkusen offered him a chance to be a first-team player.

After seven years of leaving everything on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium, he has decided to embark on a new challenge with Die Werkself, who are looking to push themselves even further in the coming season.

Yet Finkbeiner believes Xhaka is returning to his ‘comfort zone’, but perhaps his inability to see the logic in the player’s transfer stems from his personal bias against Leverkusen, considering his rather condescending ‘opinion’ about Die Werkself further in his piece.