Sam Allardyce believes Mikel Arteta actually sold a better player than Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi

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Sam Allardyce believes that Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka is the best number six in the Premier League ahead of Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi.

In the summer of 2024, Arsenal sold Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, and it has proven to be an excellent move for the Swiss international.

The former Gunners captain flourished in Germany, winning the Bundesliga with Leverkusen and improving considerably as a player.

Mikel Arteta may well be regretting his decision to let the 33-year-old leave, given just how good he has become since leaving the Emirates Stadium.

Sam Allardyce thinks Granit Xhaka is the best number six in the Premier League

Sam Allardyce has just named former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka as the best number six in the Premier League.

Xhaka has been one of the best summer signings following his transfer to the Stadium of Light in a deal worth around £13 million.

However, Martin Zubimendi may well have something to say about both those claims, given how good he has been since moving to North London.

Speaking about Xhaka, Allardyce told No Tippy Tappy Football: “I’m going to say one that nobody would pick and that’s Xhaka at Sunderland because they are in, what is it? What position are they now, Sunderland?

“Fifth? sixth? And he has masterminded the start of the season with his experience and his intelligence and his play and his creativity, as well as his defensive policy.

“So it’s like he’s on a new lease of life as he’s come back and he looks like he’s enjoying every minute of it now.”

There is no doubt that Xhaka has been brilliant for the Black Cats, but Zubimendi is quite clearly the best holding midfielder in the English top flight.

Mikel Arteta should have re-signed Granit Xhaka over Christian Norgaard

One smart move Arteta should have made over the summer would have been to re-sign Xhaka ahead of Christian Norgaard.

The Gunners paid a very similar fee to sign the ex-Brentford captain, but Arteta hasn’t given him many minutes since the move. The 31-year-old has played just 302 minutes since making the switch to the Emirates.

The Danish midfielder is clearly a dependable option, but if Zubimendi were to get injured, the drop-off in quality would be a slight concern.

Speaking ahead of the 2-2 draw earlier this month, Arteta admitted he still loves Xhaka. Therefore, Xhaka’s quality, experience and knowledge of Arsenal might have been the smarter play to have gone back for him.