Xhaka: ‘My bags were packed but Arteta convinced me to stay with Arsenal’

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka admits that the only reason he stayed with Arsenal was because of manager Mikel Arteta.

Xhaka said his scuffle with fans had him keep on foot out of Arsenal before Arteta intervened.

“The club didn’t show me much respect, even though I was captain,” he recalled to the Athletic.

“It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible. There was one exception. Mikel Arteta.

“When I first met him, my bags were already packed and I was ready to jump on the plane.

“My heart and soul had already left the club. I told him ) that the solution was for me to slip away. But Mikel said he wanted me to stay.

“I couldn’t imagine playing for Arsenal again.

“I told him I just want to be somewhere where the fans don’t boo me. But he was very persuasive.

“For the first time in my life, I made a decision without talking to my family first.

“I stood up and said that I will stay. From that day I returned to training and we behaved as if nothing had happened.”

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