Xhaka could join Chelsea, a move directly connected to Xabi Alonso's appointment.

The former Arsenal midfielder has performed exceptionally well at Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland since leaving North London.

For many Arsenal supporters, Xhaka is that player: if you had to pick one midfielder who departed during Mikel Arteta's tenure but could win a Premier League medal, it would likely be him. The Swiss international became a cornerstone of Arteta's midfield and played a crucial role in helping Arsenal mount a genuine title challenge. He also proved his quality in the Bundesliga when Leverkusen went unbeaten, and at 33, he remains in peak form. Many fans still hold deep affection for him, so seeing a former Arsenal midfielder join Chelsea—like Aubameyang and Fabregas before him—would undoubtedly be difficult to accept.

However, this is far more than just emotional. Chelsea has fallen so far behind Arsenal that most Gunners supporters don't even consider them title rivals anymore. Despite massive investment, Chelsea has made a series of poor decisions that have widened the gap with their North London neighbors. Last season, Chelsea finished 10th with no European football, 33 points behind Arsenal.

By 2025, the gap between the two clubs has narrowed to just 5 points, down from 26 points in 2024 and 40 points in 2023. Though Chelsea ranked higher during Arsenal's early rebuilding phase from 2022 onwards, they have never genuinely threatened to close the gap since then.

Arsenal has always been more strategic and stable in squad building; Chelsea, by contrast, has assembled talented but inexperienced players through their relentless pursuit of young stars with limited proven success. These are precisely the qualities Xhaka possesses.

If this transfer happens, it won't just strengthen Chelsea—something I hope doesn't occur—more importantly, it would signal that the situation is changing and that Alonso's arrival has begun to shift momentum. That's what truly warrants attention, more so than the emotions surrounding a former player joining a London rival.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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