From Netflix Laughing Stock to Premier League Contenders
Sunderland Football Club has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in recent English football history. Just a few years ago, the Black Cats were the subject of national ridicule, captured in their Netflix documentary era when the club suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One.
The dark days included questionable transfer decisions like the £4 million panic buy of Will Grigg and the infamous situation with Jack Rodwell occupying the treatment room while earning £70,000 per week in the third tier. The club's image wasn't helped by co-owner Stewart Donald's peculiar choices, including replacing Prokofiev's Dance of the Knights with Ibiza house anthems for player walk-on music.
The Xhaka Factor: Sunderland's Influential Captain
Fast forward to the present, and Sunderland find themselves in an unimaginable position. After winning the Championship playoff final against Sheffield United, the club embarked on an ambitious recruitment drive that has brought 14 new players to the Stadium of Light, all of whom have contributed to their impressive fourth-place standing after ten games.
While several signings have impressed, Granit Xhaka stands out as the most influential acquisition. The former Arsenal captain, who had a turbulent seven-year spell in North London, has become the heartbeat of Régis Le Bris's revitalised Sunderland side.
Xhaka's relationship with Arsenal fans was famously fractious, reaching its nadir in 2019 when he was substituted against Crystal Palace. The incident saw the Swiss international swear at his own supporters, rip off his shirt, and storm down the tunnel. Since leaving Arsenal, Xhaka has won a German league and cup double with Bayer Leverkusen, while his former club have failed to secure major silverware.
Emotional Reunion Looms at Stadium of Light
This Saturday's match against Arsenal promises to be particularly poignant for Sunderland's skipper. Xhaka admitted this will be an emotional occasion, telling reporters: "It will be an emotional game for myself – I had seven amazing years there. I still have contact with many players, with the coaching staff. To play against them here in Sunderland, of course, is very special."
The transformation at Sunderland has been so dramatic that many supporters genuinely believe their team can halt Arsenal's Premier League title charge. This represents a staggering shift in mentality for a club that recently seemed permanently marooned in football's lower tiers.
While Sunderland fans will be hoping for a captain's performance from their influential leader, Arsenal supporters may be cautiously optimistic that the occasion gets to Xhaka, potentially leading to the kind of disciplinary lapse that occasionally marred his time in North London.
The match represents more than just three points – it's a testament to how far Sunderland have come and a chance for Xhaka to write another chapter in his compelling English football story.
