Watch Granit Xhaka score stunning free-kick on Arsenal return as Gunners stun Chelsea

GRANIT XHAKA repaid Mikel Arteta’s faith with a stunning free-kick past Chelsea on Sunday.

The Arsenal manager reintroduced Xhaka to his line-up for the London derby after a ban for a petulant red card against Burnley.

With the Gunners already 1-0 up after Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty, the Swiss midfielder had the chance to cap a stunning first-half for his side.

Standing over a free-kick some 25 yards out, he whipped it past Edouard Mendy to double Arsenal’s lead.

Xhaka held a single finger in the air for a muted celebration, while being mobbed by overjoyed team-mates.

With his first goal in over 11 months, the 28-year-old’s strike marked the Gunners’ remarkable Boxing Day resurrection.

Not since November 1 had Arteta’s men even held the lead in a Premier League game.

And Xhaka’s three-match ban saw the team extend their domestic winless run to eight games.

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Granit Xhaka bagged his first goal of the season with a pearl of a free-kickCredit: Reuters

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The midfielder was mobbed by team-mates as he celebrated the strikeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But that all changed with a clinical performance at Emirates Stadium.

Lacazette’s penalty, from a Reece James foul on Kieran Tierney, and Xhaka’s free-kick made it 2-0 at the break.

Bukayo Saka then lobbed goalkeeper Mendy with a cross-cum-shot before Chelsea put together an attempt at a comeback.

Tammy Abraham netted what proved only to be a consolation when Jorginho had his stoppage-time penalty saved by Bernd Leno.

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