Arsenal followers have been fast to taunt Granit Xhaka on his Emirates return following the 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
The ex-Gunners midfielder left the membership to hitch the German outfit final summer season – happening to win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal with them.
Final month, Xhaka riled up some Gooners by stating that signing for Leverkusen wasn’t a backwards step, and was in truth the other.
He stated: “The transfer from Arsenal to Leverkusen was not a step again, however moderately two steps ahead.”
However sadly for the Switzerland worldwide, his former aspect simply made gentle work of his present one off in emphatic trend in a pre-season pleasant conflict on Wednesday.
Arsenal received 4-1, courtesy of objectives from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, with Bayer’s Adam Hlozek grabbing a late comfort within the second half.
Other than the scoreline, issues obtained worse for Xhaka as he performed by accident handed his tried block within the field to Havertz to fireplace residence.
Xhaka was a fan favorite on the Emirates, and was nonetheless handled as such for the event – however Gunners followers on social media could not resist taking the chance to have a cheeky poke at his ‘two step forwards’ comment.
“Granit Xhaka 2 steps ahead and conceded 2 objectives in 9 minutes!” one wrote.
“Xhaka handed it to Havertz for his aim… as soon as a Gooner, at all times a Gooner,” one other fan joked on X, referencing the midfielder’s unintended position of their fourth aim.
A 3rd added: “Xhaka stated Leverkusen was a two steps ahead transfer for him now he’s getting slapped 3-0 on the Emirates.”
This person then quipped: “Arsenal went TWO STEPS forward of Xhaka in 9mins. Hehehehe.”
In the meantime, some could not assist however reminisce about Xhaka’s time on the membership, with one writing: “Xhaka with the boys… tears in my eyes.”
Regardless of followers bantering their former captain on social media, the ex-Gunners man did obtained a unbelievable reception on the sport.
Arsenal displayed a ‘welcome again’ message for Xhaka on the massive display on the Emirates.
He even obtained a standing ovation as he was substituted off within the eightieth minute.
Xhaka was additionally embraced by former supervisor Mikel Arteta as he made his method off the pitch.
The ex-Borussia Monchengladbach star bounced again from being famously booed off on the Emirates to being a cult hero throughout his time in north London, taking part in a key position in midfield of their title cost in 2023, whereas additionally profitable two FA Cups.
He performed 297 video games after signing from Monchengladbach in 2016 for £35million, scoring 23 objectives and grabbing 29 assists.
And he did after all get his justifiable share of purple playing cards – 5 in whole.