Pre-season, Sunderland have been predicted to battle within the Premier League this season, many believing Regis Le Bris‘ facet would undergo second-season syndrome after final 12 months’s heroics.
Sunderland might need been crushed by Arsenal on the Stadium of Mild on Saturday night, however the depth and drive proven towards the omnipotent champions supplied the suggestion that this group will certainly have sufficient within the locker to keep away from falling right into a relegation dogfight.
Sunderland have a good distance nonetheless to go, however this has been a strong begin – and with Granit Xhaka nonetheless on the beating coronary heart of Le Bris’ challenge, there’s loads of trigger for optimism.
Why Xhaka will likely be Sunderland’s famous person as soon as once more
As quickly as le Bris led Sunderland again to the Premier League and began trying to find a midfield marshall to cement his system, many turned towards Jordan Henderson.
It made sense, to make sure, with the England veteran reared on Wearside and searching for a route out of Ajax, however in hindsight, finishing a deal for Xhaka has gone down as a complete success, with Wayne Rooney even hailing the Swiss midfielder as “the signing of the season“.
|
Premier League Comparability (25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Xhaka |
Henderson |
|
Matches (begins) |
34 (32) |
32 (22) |
|
Objectives + assists |
1 + 6 |
1 + 3 |
|
Touches* |
67.5 |
44.9 |
|
Correct passes* |
44.5 (84%) |
28.2 (78%) |
|
Large possibilities created |
9 |
8 |
|
Key passes* |
1.0 |
0.6 |
|
Possession misplaced* |
12.6 |
9.9 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
0.3 |
0.1 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.7 |
3.1 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
4.9 |
2.4 |
|
Duels received* |
4.6 (60%) |
1.5 (48%) |
Not solely a convincing chief, Xhaka additionally produced unimaginable all-encompassing midfield performances, outstripping the likes of Henderson, who impressed after signing for Brentford.
Fears spiked on Wearside this summer season. The skipper has been greater than dedicated to the trigger, however when Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea got here knocking in June, lodging an £8m provide, his head was turned.
Chelsea failed of their bid, and Xhaka has stayed put. A real skilled, he hasn’t let it knock him, really producing some sensational outcomes over the primary few weeks of the 2026/27 marketing campaign, creating ten possibilities, successful 61% of his duels and recovering 7.8 balls per sport.
Sunderland might hit new heights with Xhaka nonetheless within the combine. The Black Cats are prepared for a season within the Europa League, in any case. However we should keep in mind that Xhaka turns 34 in lower than two weeks, and Le Bris wants a brand new talisman to step up.
Le Bris has already discovered Sunderland’s new Xhaka
Sunderland have defied the chances to succeed in the place they’re now in, however they should maintain it over the approaching years, and Xhaka wants one in every of his senior friends to imagine extra accountability this season.
Enzo Le Price and Dan Ballard will likely be essential in that regard, nevertheless it’s really Nordi Mukiele who’s rising as the brand new talisman, with the bodily and versatile defender arguably the most effective participant on the pitch, for both facet, as Sunderland fell to a slender defeat towards Arsenal.
Mukiele is succesful as a central defender, however right-back is his forte, all the time uo for a battle, defending his aim and charging ahead with power and conviction when the fitting likelihood emerges.
Towards Arsenal, Mukiele stood agency. The Gunners are the most effective group within the nation, suffocating, however they met an iron wall within the type of the Frenchman, who received 5 duels and broke their defences too, firing off two photographs and coming shut on two events.
Like Xhaka, he has performed for prime European outfits and located a house on the Stadium of Mild which has allowed his potential to bloom. Now, he is likely one of the most important components of Le Bris’ system.
Mukiele seemed a cut price when he joined the membership from Paris Saint-Germain for round £12m final summer season. His pure expertise was by no means up for debate, but he lacked the fitting atmosphere to showcase that potential with the consistency now confirmed on Wearside.
It is yet one more instance of shrewd, calculated spending on Director of Soccer Florent Ghisolfi’s half. The Black Cats are in good fingers, and over the following few years, Mukiele’s captain materials could strengthen.
