Granit Xhaka might no longer be at Arsenal but he is still on the hunt for a league title – that could break Harry Kane’s heart.
After seven years at Arsenal, it was time for Xhaka to close the chapter on his life in the Premier League.
4
He returned to Germany to sign for Bayer Leverkusen while many might have thought that was quite the step down from coming close to leading the Gunners to Premier League glory the previous season.
But the 31-year-old has proven doubters wrong, operating as Leverkusen’s heartbeat in midfield and talk of a title challenge is already growing.
Xabi Alonso’s side are unbeaten this season in the Bundesliga, winning eight out of nine matches with Xhaka missing just 11 minutes of action.
Acting as a deep-lying playmaker in a No.6 role, the Switzerland international has the most successful passes in the final third in the league with 179.
It has helped Leverkusen emerge as the league leaders after nine games, battling Bayern Munich for the title.
They sit two points ahead of the German giants, who have won the last 11 titles, and signed Harry Kane in the summer transfer window.
Leverkusen have already won the hearts of neutrals across Europe, hoping to finally see Bayern’s dynasty fall, while Xhaka is not the only player performing at the BayArena this season.
Florian Wirtz is the 20-year-old wonderkid who is already being tipped for a huge future.
4
4
Victor Boniface signed this summer and has already scored seven times in the Bundesliga.
And Edmund Tapsoba is starting to realise his huge potential and look imperious at the back.
All of this spells bad news for Kane, whose wait for a trophy continues after leaving Tottenham in the summer.
His dream of finally lifting silverware looked a certainty after signing for Bayern, who at least win the league every year.
4
But after a shock defeat in the DFL-Pokal Cup to third-tier Saarbrucken and winning the Champions League being no easy feat, it might mean the Bundesliga is Kane’s best shot at a trophy.
However, Xhaka might have something to say about that if Leverkusen continue their extraordinary form, giving Bayern a title battle for the ages.
Ironically, this is Tottenham’s best chance in years to finally end their 15-year wait for silverware after a magical start to the season under Ange Postecoglou, currently unbeaten and top of the Premier League.
In a cruel twist of fate, there is a scenario where Bayern miss out on the title, Spurs win the league and Kane ends up empty-handed, watching his old Arsenal rival Xhaka lift the Meisterschale instead.