Pre-season, Sunderland were predicted to struggle in the Premier League this season, many believing Regis Le Bris' side would suffer second-season syndrome after last year's heroics.

Sunderland might have been beaten by Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening, but the intensity and drive shown against the all-powerful champions offered the suggestion that this team will indeed have enough in the locker to avoid falling into a relegation dogfight.

Sunderland have a long way still to go, but this has been a solid start - and with Granit Xhaka still at the beating heart of Le Bris' project, there's plenty of cause for optimism.

Why Xhaka will be Sunderland's superstar once again

As soon as le Bris led Sunderland back to the Premier League and started searching for a midfield marshall to cement his system, many turned toward Jordan Henderson.

It made sense, to be sure, with the England veteran reared on Wearside and seeking a route out of Ajax, but in hindsight, completing a deal for Xhaka has gone down as a total success, with Wayne Rooney even hailing the Swiss midfielder as "the signing of the season".

Not only a convincing leader, Xhaka also produced incredible all-encompassing midfield performances, outstripping the likes of Henderson, who impressed after signing for Brentford.

Fears spiked on Wearside this summer. The skipper has been more than committed to the cause, but when Xabi Alonso's Chelsea came knocking in June, lodging an £8m offer, his head was turned.

Chelsea failed in their bid, and Xhaka has stayed put. A true professional, he hasn't let it knock him, actually producing some sensational results over the first few weeks of the 2026/27 campaign, creating ten chances, winning 61% of his duels and recovering 7.8 balls per game.

Sunderland could hit new heights with Xhaka still in the mix. The Black Cats are ready for a season in the Europa League, after all. But we must remember that Xhaka turns 34 in less than two weeks, and Le Bris needs a new talisman to step up.

Le Bris has already found Sunderland's new Xhaka

Sunderland have defied the odds to reach the position they are now in, but they need to sustain it over the coming years, and Xhaka needs one of his senior peers to assume more responsibility this season.

Enzo Le Fee and Dan Ballard will be crucial in that regard, but it's actually Nordi Mukiele who is emerging as the new talisman, with the physical and versatile defender arguably the best player on the pitch, for either side, as Sunderland fell to a narrow defeat against Arsenal.

Mukiele is capable as a central defender, but right-back is his forte, always uo for a battle, protecting his goal and charging forward with strength and conviction when the right chance emerges.

Against Arsenal, Mukiele stood firm. The Gunners are the best team in the country, suffocating, but they met an iron wall in the form of the Frenchman, who won five duels and broke their defences too, firing off two shots and coming close on two occasions.

Like Xhaka, he has played for top European outfits and found a home at the Stadium of Light which has allowed his potential to bloom. Now, he is one of the most crucial parts of Le Bris' system.

Mukiele looked a bargain when he joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain for around £12m last summer. His natural talent was never up for debate, yet he lacked the right environment to showcase that potential with the consistency now proven on Wearside.

It's yet another example of shrewd, calculated spending on Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi's part. The Black Cats are in good hands, and over the next few years, Mukiele's captain material may strengthen.