Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has thrived since departing the Emirates last summer, and he is enjoying a record-breaking season.

Xhaka has been one of the best midfielders in European football this year, helping Bayer Leverkusen record a historic unbeaten Bundesliga season, and this could become one of the greatest campaigns ever as they are also in the Europa League and DFB Pokal finals.

They are set to face Atalanta in the Europa League final, and Xhaka will come up against a former teammate in Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian helped Atalanta knock Liverpool out of the competition this season, and both players will be hoping to win the competition.

Both started as Arsenal were beaten in the Europa League final in 2019 on what was a dark day for the club, and Xhaka has now admitted that this is giving him motivation ahead of Leverkusen’s clash with Atalanta in Dublin.

Granit Xhaka recalls Arsenal Europa League defeat ahead of Leverkusen vs Atalanta

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Xhaka admitted that the pain of Arsenal’s 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in the 2019 final was in his mind ahead of his chance at redemption in the competition.

“Yeah it’s my second Europa League final, it’s true,” he stated.

“The first one we lost but in life you always get a second chance, and if you have the chance to take it in the 2nd one you try and you give everything”

Granit Xhaka has chance for yet another redemption story

Xhaka had a roller-coaster career at Arsenal, having recovered from a brutal day in which he was booed off at the Emirates, and stripped of the armband, to becoming a cult hero by the time of his departure last season.

The Europa League final was one of the worst days in Arsenal’s recent history. Xhaka and Alex Iwobi were arguably the only two players who can hold their heads high after what was a disastrous performance in Baku.

Unai Emery’s side had narrowly missed out on a top-four spot, but this was their chance to qualify for the Champions League. They were humiliated by Chelsea in an embarrassing day, and Xhaka will want to avoid going through similar pain again.

“That the final is the highlight of my career so far,” He stated a few weeks after the defeat.

“So, it hurts a lot, damn it hurt. It annoys me enormously that we have lost.”

After redeeming himself among Arsenal fans and redefining his reputation with Leverkusen, Xhaka now has the chance to expel the demons of his past in the Europa League and win the title that eluded him before.