{"id":457483,"date":"2026-02-09T02:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T02:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/457483\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T02:44:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T02:44:09","slug":"ian-wright-says-arsenal-sold-brilliant-player-two-years-too-early-he-would-fit-perfectly-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/457483\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian Wright says Arsenal sold ‘brilliant’ player two years too early, he would fit ‘perfectly’ now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arsenal have had many great players over the years.<\/p>\n

The Gunners were among the best clubs in the country two decades ago under Arsene Wenger<\/a>, but since then, major trophies have been hard to come by. <\/p>\n

However, Mikel Arteta<\/a> has built a terrific squad over the years, and although not all of his key men are still at the club, their contributions cannot be forgotten.<\/p>\n

One such player is Granit Xhaka<\/a>, and Ian Wright<\/a> thinks he would be perfect now. <\/p>\n

Should Arsenal have re-signed Granit Xhaka last summer? <\/p>\n

\"DeclanPhoto by Alex Livesey\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Let us know how you voted in the comments\u2026 \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

Ian Wright says he wishes Granit Xhaka stayed at Arsenal for two more years<\/p>\n

Xhaka spent seven years at Arsenal. <\/p>\n

The Swiss international, hailed as \u2018brilliant<\/a>\u2018 by Micah Richards, was signed by Wenger as a replacement for Mikel Arteta<\/a> after he retired in 2016. <\/p>\n

Xhaka had his ups and downs at Arsenal, but by the time he decided to leave the club, he became a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Arsenal sold the midfielder to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, and many people felt that it was the right time for both parties to go their separate ways.<\/p>\n

\"GranitPhoto by Jacques Feeney\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images<\/p>\n

However, Wright has now claimed that he wishes Xhaka stayed for two more years.<\/p>\n

While watching Arteta and Xhaka embrace each other after Arsenal beat Sunderland on Saturday, Wright said on Premier League Productions<\/a>: \u201cHe is one of those players that you only wish stayed for a couple more years. <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he is somebody that fits perfectly into this Arsenal team<\/a> and the way this Arsenal team plays and the mentality of it. <\/p>\n

\u201cGranit Xhaka is probably one of the guys who instilled a lot of that into these players.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you could give a Premier League medal to ONE former Arsenal player, who would it be and why? <\/p>\n

\"ArsenalPhoto by Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images Granit Xhaka sends heartfelt message after returning to Arsenal\u2019s Emirates Stadium<\/p>\n

Xhaka is adored by Arsenal fans<\/a> today, and Arteta loves him too.<\/p>\n

The midfielder couldn\u2019t play for Sunderland at the Emirates because of an injury, but he still made the trip with his teammates. <\/p>\n

Arteta and Xhaka spent a few moments talking after the game, and it was a joy to see them reunited. His Instagram post<\/a> after the match shows he loved his return too.<\/p>\n

The Swiss icon wrote: \u201cBack at the Emirates today with Sunderland \u2013 seven beautiful years here that I\u2019ll always carry with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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