The Swiss midfielder's tenure at the Emirates came to an end last evening as he signed a new contract with Bayer Leverkusen and is set to play under Xabi Alonso. Granit Xhaka's time at Arsenal was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride from being booed by the fans to having his own song sang at the Emirates, it really was an amazing journey.

For mmore Arsenal related news.

Xhaka's time at Arsenal

In the summer of 2016, Arséne Wenger, then Arsenal manager signed Xhaka from Borussia Mönchengladbach for around £35m. Xhaka came as a substitute signing to N'Golo Kante, he was signed by the Gunners when they withdrew from the race to sign the French midfielder.

Start to his Arsenal career

The Swiss made his debut in the opening match of the 2016-2017 Premier League campaign against Liverpool, where the Gunners lost by 4 goals to 3 and also picked up a yellow card. He had a knack of picking up cards because of his hothead nature from his Mönchengladbach days and that attitude made him an undesirable character at the club.

His first red card for Arsenal was on October 15, in a 3-2 win over Swansea City and was again sent off in a match against Burnley on 22 January in that season only. He was heavily criticised due to his bad tackles and when asked about it, he said that it was just the way he played.

In his Arsenal career he scored some amazing goals and most of them were long range shots. The Swiss midfielder loved to have a go at the goal from a distance and unsurprisingly he did score a lot of goals with his amazing left foot from outside of the box.

He went on to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield in that season for the Gunners and was a crucial part of the team. In 2019, Xhaka was made Arsenal's captain, due to his leadership qualities and with the hope of him taking more responsibility for the team, by Unai Emery.

The infamous incident

In that season only came the highlight of Xhaka's time at Arsenal. On 27 October, 2019 in a match against Crystal Palace the home crowd started to cheer when his name was called to be substituted. He was booed as he walked off the pitch and his response to that caused him even more trouble. 

His actions in that game met with significant criticism after the match and was stripped of the captain's armband. He wasn't given a regular place in the starting XI after this incident and it was eminent to all the viewers that he was gonna leave the club in the next transfer window.

His reintroduction under Mikel Arteta

However, he rediscovered himself under Mikel Arteta, who got hired by the board to take charge of Arsenal after Unai Emery. He became a key player in Arteta's team with starting almost every match in the midfield. Xhaka was a big fan of Arteta's plans and he believed that he (Arteta) was the right guy for Arsenal. 

In 2020, Xhaka won his second FA Cup winners medal against Chelsea under Mikel Arteta and was able to win over the fans with his performances. He started to play better in Arteta's system with being instrumental for the team.

Granit Xhaka was a leader on the pitch and inside the dressing room. He always motivated the players and was not afraid to take sides when it came to protecting his teammates. The Swiss was passionate for the club which reflected in every action of his, including the desperate tackles which brought him numerous criticisms.

Xhaka saying his goodbyes to the Emirates

He played his last game for the Gunners in the final Matchweek of the Premier League in a 5-0 victory against Wolves and got the perfect farewell by scoring 2 goals for the team with nearly scoring a hat-trick. After the match he got a standing ovation by the fans as they all knew he was gonna join Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

From being jeered off by the fans to receiving huge amount of praises, Granit Xhaka's time at Arsenal really was a memorable one. The way he connected with the fans in the last couple of years, under Mikel Arteta was truly remarkable.

Signing for Bayer Leverkusen

He signed a permanent contract with Bayer Leverkusen which marked an end to his Arsenal career. He was sold by the Gunners for a reported fee of around £21m which is considered a very healthy fee for a midfielder of his stature. He would be coached by one of the best midfielders of the game in the name of Xabi Alonso and would possibly be able add some more qualities to his game.

Every now and then, a year comes along that changes sports history. Imagine waiting years, even decades, for your favourite team to win. For fans across the globe, 2025 has turned that dream into reality.

This year has been special, marked by some of the longest trophy droughts in sports finally coming to an end. Teams like South Africa in cricket and Bologna in football have broken long-standing curses, proving that anything is possible. 

Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history? Join us as we explore why 2025 is a year sports fans won't soon forget, and is also termed as "Year of the underdogs."

1. South Africa won an ICC Trophy after 27 years/ 9,862 days

For nearly three decades, the "chokers" tag clung to the Proteas like an unwanted shadow. Time and again, they reached close to the glory, only to falter at crucial moments. But 2025 changed everything, as they lifted ICC WTC Trophy defeating a strong Australian side in the Final.

South Africa showcased a cricketing masterclass with extraordinary team efforts in a high-stakes final match. From Aiden Markram's century to Temba Bavuma's batting class, they gave it all to earn the standing ovation from the crowd as they walked with pride after the win.

This victory, as Mark Boucher previously said, indeed is the turnaround they needed to inspire future generations and earn global respect as champions that they truly deserve.

They made the world chant "It's time for Africa" with their performance.

Read Also: Most ICC Trophies by any men's team

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2. RCB won their first ever IPL trophy after 18 years/ 6,570 days

For 18 painfully long years, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their passionate fans endured a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak in IPL. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB delivered exceptional, balanced performance this season, finally breaking free of their curse.

The image of Virat Kohli lifting the IPL trophy, the last major piece missing from his glittering cabinet, was one of the most iconic sporting moments of this year. It not only signified the team's victory, but also the ultimate reward for loyalty and career-long excellence.

The overall team contribution and management are the key factors that led them to secure their place as champions, shutting all the haters down.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB batters create this unique history before the playoffs

AAAAARRRRR CEEEEEEE BEEEEEE ❤🏆#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/lp3AwgCVQl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

3. Go Ahead Eagles won the KNVB Cup after 93 years/ 33,968 days

Go Ahead Eagles soared to their first major trophy in 93 years, winning the KNVB Cup in 2025. For generations of fans in Deventer, this was a moment they might have only dreamed of. The emotions outpouring after the victory were sensational.

Their journey in the tournament was an underdog saga, defeating AZ Alkmaar, where they equalised the final match in the 99th minute to take it to penalties, and ultimately winning it from there!

4. Bologna won the Italian Cup after 51 years/ 18,619 days

Bologna's victory in the Italian Cup after 51 years was a testament to patience and a perfectly executed season. Their triumph in 2025, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final, was a moment they manifested for years.

Key contributions from players like Don Ndoye, who scored the decisive goal despite returning from injury, and the tactical decisions of the coach, Vincenzo Italiano, brought joy to a city that waited for so long.

5.  Crystal Palace won the first ever major trophy (FA Cup) after 119 years/ 43,714 days

Perhaps the most astonishing drought-breaker of 2025 belonged to Crystal Palace. After 119 years, the Eagles finally lifted their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup. 

The single decisive goal from Eberechi Eze and crucial saves from goalkeeper Dean Henderson shaped their 1-0 victory over Manchester City FC. This victory proved that even after more than a century, a club's biggest dream can still become reality!

Read Also: Football teams with most international trophies

6. Newcastle United won the League Cup after a long wait of 55 years/ 20,367 days

For the passionate supporters of Newcastle United, 2025 brought an end to a 55-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they won the English Football League Cup.

The sight of the Magpies defeating the 10-time champions Liverpool (1-2) was a powerful moment that reinforced belief in their new era. Goals from local hero Dan Burn and Alexander Isak brought the victory home for them.

7. Harry Kane won his first-ever major trophy (Bundesliga) after 32 years/ 11,676 days

For years, England's most prolific striker, Harry Kane, was burdened by an unfortunate tag: "trophy virgin." Despite his goal-scoring records and individual brilliance, a major team trophy has always slipped away from him.

But 2025 finally saw the narrative shattered as Kane immediately made his mark after joining Bayern Munich, leading them to their 33rd Bundesliga title. He was also the top scorer of the 2024-25 season, having scored 26 goals and 8 assists.

This victory felt like a personal one, putting a line to complete the picture in his football career.

Read Also: 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

This one’s coming home with me! 🏆

Buzzing to be Bundesliga top goalscorer for the second year in a row and this one’s even more special as it goes alongside the Bundesliga title! Couldn’t have achieved this without the support of my teammates! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WnvIvCf28S

— Harry Kane (@HKane) May 17, 2025

8. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League after 17 years/ 6,296 days

2025 finally broke Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year trophy drought, as they won the UEFA Europa League. This was a monumental win, bringing the title back to North London.

The tense final against Manchester United saw a crucial goal from Brennan Johnson secure the 1-0 victory. However, the most iconic image was Son Heung-min, the club's long-serving captain, finally lifting a major trophy.

After a decade of dedication and numerous near misses, Son's emotional moment, draped in the Korean flag, was the highlight of his commitment and love for football.

A moment Tottenham fans will never forget 🏆#UELfinal | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/ROFK5pRtDD

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2025

The English Premier League, or the Premier League, has been the best football league in Europe for a long now. As per UEFA Club Coefficients, the Premier League is the best football league on the continent, with the best standard of football and competitiveness. 

The competitiveness not only makes it tough for teams to finish at the summit of the points table, but the battle for the UEFA Champions League spot also intensifies. This season, Liverpool FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League from the Premier League. 

This is the first time six teams from any league have qualified for the Champions League. Not only that, there is also a chance that another team can qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, depending on Chelsea's performance in the Conference League final this season. 

Read Also | Ranking all 33 UEFA Champions League finals

How do teams qualify for the Champions League from a league?

Till the 2022-23 season, every top-four team from the European Leagues used to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Along with the top four teams, the Europa League winners also qualified for the Champions League next season. 

But, from the 2024 season, along with the top four teams and Europa League/Conference League winners, leagues started getting an additional European Performance Spot. EPS is awarded to the league with strong UEFA coefficient performances, which the Premier League earned this season as well. 

Read Also | Every Premier League club’s biggest Free Transfer Exit

Premier League teams to qualify for the Champions League every season since 2016

2015-16

In the 2025-16 Champions League season, Chelsea qualified as the champions of the Premier League 2014-15. Manchester City and Arsenal qualified as the second and third finishers of the league. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United qualified for the Champions League play-off round as the UEFA Europa League 2014-15 winners.

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester United

2016-17

Leicester City surprised everyone to win the 2015-16 Premier League after a historic season. They entered the Champions League as the champions of England. Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City qualified as the second to fourth spot finishers. 

• Leicester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (3rd)
• Manchester City (4th)

2017-18

Chelsea qualified for the Champions League by winning the 2016-17 Premier League. Spurs, who were very close of a title, finished second to qualify for Europe. Manchester City and Liverpool qualified as the third and fourth place finishers. 

Meantime, Manchester United, who were sixth in the league qualified after winning the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League. 

• Chelsea (Champions, 1st)
• Tottenham Hotspur (2nd)
• Manchester City (3rd)
• Liverpool (4th)
• Manchester United (6th, qualified via Europa League win)

2018-19

Manchester City's domination in the Premier League started with winning the 2017-18 season, as they entered the Champions League 2018-19 as the champions of England. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool were the other teams to qualify for Champions League.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur played an all-England final where Liverpool defeated Spurs by 2-0 to win the title. 

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester United (2nd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (3rd)
• Liverpool (4th)

2019-20

After winning the Champions League, Liverpool finished second in the Premier League, just one point behind the champions, Manchester City. Chelsea and Spurs qualified as the third and fourth team from Premier League.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Liverpool (2nd)
• Chelsea (3rd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (4th)

2020-21

Liverpool finally broke City's Premier League domination as they lifted 2019-20 Premier League title with 18 points lead over Manchester City, who finished second. Manchester United and Chelsea were the other teams to qualify for the Champions League.

Manchester City and Chelsea played an all-English Champions League in 2021, where Chelsea won their second UCL title. 

• Liverpool (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester City (2nd)
• Manchester United (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)

2021-22

Manchester City again won the Premier League title to qualify for Europe, with Manchester United finishing second in the league. Liverpool and Chelsea were the other tequalified as the third and fourth teams from the Premier League. 

Liverpool lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid in the 2021-22 season.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Manchester United (2nd)
• Liverpool (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)

2022-23

City defended the Premier League title in the 2021-22 season and entered the Champions League 2022-23, which they eventually won, beating Inter Milan in the final. 

Liverpool, who lost the Premier League race by just one point, qualified alongside Chelsea and Spurs.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Liverpool (2nd)
• Chelsea (3rd)
• Tottenham Hotspur (4th)

2023-24

City won their third consecutive Premier League title helped them earn the Champions League spot. Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League 2023-24. 

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Manchester United (3rd)
• Newcastle United (4th)

2024-25

Back-to-back four Premier League titles for City ensured them another go at the Champions League. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa were the other teams from Premier League to qualify for the new format Champions Legaue. 

Arsenal were the only team from the Premier League to play semi-final that season.

• Manchester City (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Liverpool (3rd)
• Aston Villa (4th)

Read Also | Most English Top Flight Titles: Liverpool equal with United

2025-26

A record six teams qualified for the 2025-26 Champions League season from the Premier League. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea qualified as the top four teams. The EPS allowed an added spot as Newcastle United qualified as the fifth team.

Spurs qualified as the Europa League 2024-25 winners. Chelsea can also become the seventh team to qualify from the Premier League, if they win the UEFA Conference League final against Real Betis on 28th May. 

• Liverpool (Champions, 1st)
• Arsenal (2nd)
• Manchester City (3rd)
• Chelsea (4th)
• Newcastle United (5th)
• Tottenham Hotspur (17th, qualified via Europa League win)

Hello and welcome to another exciting evening of UEFA Champions League football. This is Koushik Biswas, who will bring you all the updates of the PSG vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Semi-final second leg match at the Parc des Princes in Paris. 

Paris St. Germain (PSG) are leading by 1-0 after the first leg as Ousmane Dembele's lone goal in the first half was enough for the Parisians to secure a first-leg win. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal looked good in spells but could not convert their chances to level with PSG at their home. But with only one goal deficit, this game is far from over.

With both teams not tasting European success in their history, they will not want to miss the chance to qualify for the final. 

So, sit back and relax as we bring you every minute update of the match. Enjoy the coverage. 

Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal have met 4 times in the UEFA Champions League. Their first two encounters came in the 2016/17 group stage, with both matches ending in draws.

They met again in the 2024/25 campaign, with Arsenal claiming their first Champions League win over PSG in the league phase.

Most recently, PSG secured their first-ever Champions League victory over Arsenal in the semi-final first leg.

Overall in the Champions League, Arsenal have one win, PSG have one win, and two matches have ended in draws.

Read Also | The Top 10 Players with the Most Hattricks in the UEFA Champions League History

Arsenal 0-1 PSG | 2024-25 Semi-Final 1st leg

In the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg, PSG edged past Arsenal with a narrow 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Ousmane Dembele was the lone goal scorer, scoring the decisive goal in the 4th minute to give PSG a crucial advantage heading into the second leg. The match was close, with both teams having chances, but PSG’s strong defense and fast attacks gave them the edge.

Arsenal 2-0 PSG | 2024-25 Group Stage

In the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League group stage, Arsenal earned a confident 2-0 win over PSG at the Emirates Stadium.

It was a strong performance from the Gunners, who showed control and composure throughout the match. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka secured the 3 points and marked Arsenal’s first Champions League win of the season.

Read Also | Champions League winners list since 1955/56

PSG 1-1 Arsenal | 2016-17 Group Stage 1st Leg

In the first leg of the 2016–17 Champions League group stage, PSG and Arsenal drew 1-1 at the Parc des Princes.

PSG scored early with a 1 minute goal from Edinson Cavani, but Arsenal equalized in the second half through Alexis Sanchez. Both teams had chances, but couldn’t find a winner.

There match was a bit of late drama, as Olivier Giroud and Marco Verratti were both sent off in stoppage time.

Arsenal 2-2 PSG | 2016-17 Group Stage 2nd Leg

In the second leg of the 2016–17 Champions League group stage, Arsenal and PSG drew 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

 Both teams had already qualified for the next round, but were still competing for first place in the group. Cavani scored providing PSG the lead, but Arsenal came back with a penalty from Oliver Giroud and an own goal from Verratti to go ahead. A late own goal from Iwobi leveled the match.

The draw kept both teams unbeaten, with Arsenal finishing top of the group on goal difference.

The Bundesliga is the top-division tournament in German football. The competition was founded in 1962, and the first season began in 1963. The Bundesliga replaced the German national championship, which was the first tournament in German football history. And since then only one club has dominated with most Bundesliga titles. 

The German national championship, which was founded in 1903 and ran for 60 years, was a knockout competition contested between winners of each of the country's top regional leagues.

The founding member teams of the Bundesliga are 1860 Munich, Cologne, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hertha Berlin, Kaiserslautern, Karlsruhe, Preußen Münster, MSV Duisburg, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, Schalke, Vfb Stuttgart and Werder Bremen.

Besides the Bundesliga, which operated in West Germany, the DDR-Oberliga was the top-level football league in Soviet-controlled East Germany. Following the reunification of Germany, the Bundesliga became the national league of the country.

The Bundesliga started as a 16-team tournament but would soon expand to 18 teams from 1965.

In a one-off event, the league played the 1991-92 season with 20 teams following the reunification, but would return to its 18-team format in the following campaign.

There have been 13 different winners of the Bundesliga since its inception in 1963.

Read Also: Messi vs Ronaldo: Most man of the match winners in football

Who won the first Bundesliga?

FC Koln, or FC Cologne in English, won the first-ever Bundesliga season in 1963-64. The Billy Goats maintained a six-point advantage over second-placed Meidericher SV (39) and scored in each of the 30 league games played in the inaugural edition. 

Karl-Heinz Thielen (16 goals) and Christian Müller (15 goals) finished as the top scorers for the team in the championship-winning season.

Who has won the most Bundesliga titles?

Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga winners list with 34 titles. The Bavarians won their maiden Meisterschale in the 1968-69 season, with an eight-point cushion and legendary forward Gerd Muller contributing 30 goals. They are the most dominant German team and have won the most Bundesliga titles.

🏆 “Die Meisterschale ist zurück in München.“ 💬

Alle Stimmen zum Titelgewinn: https://t.co/f2Ej8hfnCs#MiaSanMeister pic.twitter.com/fnx5zGJzlE

— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) May 4, 2025

The Bavarians recently claimed the Bundesliga 2024-25 title with two games to go in the season. In doing so, Bayern have now won the German championship a record 12 times in the last 13 seasons. Their incredible run began in 2012-13 under the management of Jupp Heynckes, which was broken in the 2023-24 season by Bayer Leverkusen.

Top Five Teams with the Most Bundesliga titles till 2023

1. Bayern Munich - 34 titles

Bayern Munich are at the top of the list as they are the all-time Bundesliga title winners with 34 titles to their name. They won the 2024-25 season with two games to go in the season.

Bayern Munich also holds the record for most second-place finishes in the top German league, having done that ten times between 1969 and 2012.

There is no doubt that they are the most dominant force in Germany and one of the most historic clubs in the history of World Football. The Bavarians have also won 20 DFB-Pokal trophies and 6 Champions League titles.

Titles by years: 1931-32 (German national championship), 1968-69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21,2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25

2. Borussia Dortmund - 5 Titles

Borussia Dortmund, a 113-year-old German club, is second on the list of clubs with the most Bundesliga titles.

After Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund have won the most Bundesliga titles and have also finished second the most times in the German league.

In the pre-Bundesliga days, ‘die Schwarzgelben’ lifted three league titles – two more than Bayern.

There has always been a soft spot for Dortmund in every football fan's heart, except the fans of Bayern.

In the 2022-23 season, they were the favourites to win the titles but bottled it on the last day. Dortmund won their last Bundesliga title under Jurgen Klopp in the 2011-12 season.

Titles by years: 1994–1995; 1995–1996; 2001–2002; 2010–11; and 2011–12

3. Borussia Monchengladbach - 5 Titles

Borussia Mönchengladbach holds the third place on the list, and they have won the same number of Bundesliga titles as Borussia Dortmund.

They have finished second less as compared to Dortmund, and that's the reason why they are placed third.

Three of their five Bundesliga championships were consecutive. They won their last league title in the 1976-77 season under Udo Lattek. Monchengladbach have only ever been demoted to the Bundesliga 2 twice, in 1999 and 2007. 

Titles by years: 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1975–76, and 1976–77

4. Werder Bremen - 4 Titles

Werder Bremen have finished second seven times in the Bundesliga and have won 4 titles.

They won their last league title in the 2003-04 season under Thomas Schaaf with 74 points, and he is the longest-serving manager (14 years) of Bremen.

They share the record for most seasons played in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

Titles by years: 1964–65, 1987–88, 1992–93, 2003–04

5. Hamburger SV - 3 Titles

Hamburger SV comes fifth in this list with 3 Bundesliga titles to their name.

Their last league title came in the 1982-83 season under Ernst Happel, who won his second title with the club.

HSV have the record in German football of having won the most regional titles, having won 31 regional titles. But the regional titles do not count as a trophy or even as a title itself.

Until the 2017–18 season, HSV were the only club to have played continuously in the Bundesliga since its foundation.

Titles by years: 1978–79, 1981–82, and 1982–83

Read Also: Players with the most Champions League titles

Most Bundesliga titles list: