Behind the numbers of Xhaka's 200 PL games

Granit Xhaka became just the 17th Arsenal player to reach a double-century of Premier League appearances at the end of October.

The midfielder brought up the milestone in the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest, six years and two months after making his debut. 

He’s also just the sixth midfielder of ours to reach the mark, after Ray Parlour (333 games), Patrick Vieira (279), Aaron Ramsey (262), Freddie Ljungberg (216) and Cesc Fabregas (212).   

Granit’s debut came against Liverpool at the Emirates on August 14, 2016. He missed only six league games that season, and was ever-present the next. The 30-year-old scored at least once in each of his seven campaigns to date (13 overall) and has contributed 20 assists in the competition so far.

He started 192 of the 200 games, and was only subbed off 31 times, meaning he has racked up 16,720 minutes (278 hours) of Premier League action. That’s at least 6,400 minutes (and 42 appearances) more than any other Arsenal player over the same timespan, and puts him in the top 10 for minutes played for all outfield players in the league since he made his debut.

From that point, the Switzerland international also leads the way for us in terms of tackles won (215), free-kicks scored (3), duels won (906), fouls won (213), goals from outside the box (8) and he’s created 199 chances – second only to Mesut Ozil. He has also completed more successful passes (12,165) than any other player in the league since he came to England. 

Granit’s overall playing record for his 200 games was 109 wins, 36 draws and 55 defeats. We are yet to lose a game in which he’s scored. 

“Two hundred games in the Premier League for this amazing football club makes me proud,” Granit said. “It makes me proud for myself, for my teammates, and for the staff I’ve had in the last seven years. It’s not usual to make 200 games for a club like this, I always say I want to give them something back. I feel at home as well so hopefully there’s more to come.

 

“Two hundred games, you can’t achieve that from today, tomorrow. It needs a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline, and a lot of people were included around me for the last seven years and in the end, it’s hard work.”

As well as his Premier League appearances, Granit has also played 34 times in the Europa League, 14 in the FA Cup, 11 in the League Cup, seven in the Champions League and twice in the Community Shield, moving him on to 269 appearances overall. That places him 68th in the club’s all-time list for most games played.