Theo Walcott says Sunderland star will be a ‘major factor’ in avoiding relegation

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Theo Walcott believes Regis Le Bris has a player who can help Sunderland remain in the Premier League this season.

The Black Cats continued their phenomenal start to the season in their first year in the top flight since 2017, earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Reinildo lashed out at Matty Cash and received his marching orders in the 33rd minute, leaving his side with a one-man disadvantage for the majority of the clash at the Stadium of Light.

Cash then found the opener for Villa in the 67th minute, but as has become a common theme on Wearside this season, Wilson Isidor equalised for the hosts eight minutes later.

The result keeps Sunderland comfortably inside the top half of the league table and five points clear of the relegation zone.

Granit Xhaka will be the key for Sunderland avoiding relegation

When analysing the clash on Match of the Day, Walcott revealed that summer signing Granit Xhaka is leading by example at the Stadium of Light and could be the difference between safety and relegation.

“He did surprise a lot of people when he joined Sunderland, but I feel if they want to break the pattern of staying in the league, I think he’s a major factor for them to do this. I think for me, it says all, his leadership skills, the way he sets, the behaviours, the patterns.

“The manager spoke about, you know, the game plan had to change, and he’s a player that will be able to do that on the pitch, because he leads by example. And for me, it’s his passion and his hunger and just his bravery. He’s always willing to make those challenges. And he’s a player that, at times at Arsenal, he felt when he was higher up the field. You know, he’s kind of wasted.

“And then he came back towards the CDM position, and there was a different side of him. He could make those passes, he made those tackles, and break it up, because he was never the quickest player. But when he does find himself in the forward positions as well, it’s like I said, he’s an important science of passion this, in these behaviours, where he just sets the press, he sets the tone, and he sets the level, what he expects from his team, and this leads to him getting the shot away.

“But for me, the biggest praise I can give him is his passion and his hunger and his fight, and everyone feeds off that.”

Le Bris was told Xhaka will be more important than Florian Wirtz for Sunderland, and the ex-Arsenal man has immediately established himself as one of Sunderland’s most influential players.

The 32-year-old has played all five Premier League outings thus far, and not only has he helped fill the void left by Jobe Bellingham, who departed this summer, but he has made the Black Cats a more well-rounded outfit.

Xhaka’s move to Sunderland shocked the world as he gave up Champions League football with Bayer Leverkusen for a return to English football and a potential relegation battle.

And while Isidor breaking Darren Bent’s record will steal the headlines at the Stadium of Light, Xhaka’s influence on this side has not been lost on Walcott as the midfielder continues to prove he can still be an important player in the Premier League.

Granit Xhaka produced “one of the best” assists vs Aston Villa

Xhaka recorded his second assist of the season as his header fell into the path of Isidor, who converted the equaliser against Aston Villa.

He assisted the Frenchman’s 96th-minute match-winner in the 2-1 victory against Brentford, and the pair combined once again for an important goal.

However, Walcott feels Xhaka is not earning enough credit for the assist and went as far as to suggest that it will be one of the best assists seen in the Premier League this season.

“But this goal, this is such a difficult skill. It’s like time slows down for him, and he cushions it. And that will be one of the best assists you’ll see. It’s incredible, I think you take that for granted, that’s an incredible goal, and I think he’s gonna be so important someone to stay up this year.”