'They wanted to get rid of me' - Xhaka opens up on Arsenal exit

Tom Weber

• Updated: 19 Dec 2023 09:29 GMT
• 4 min read

Granit Xhaka has revealed that he was close to being forced out of Arsenal several years before his Leverkusen transfer.

Prior to the arrival of Mikel Arteta in the Gunners dugout, the Swiss was a player who divided opinions at Arsenal. A classy midfielder when on form, Xhaka was often rash in the challenge and got himself booked unnecessarily in his early days at the Emirates.

Under Unai Emery, his Arsenal career hit a low, culminating in him being booed by his own fans. Speaking to The Athletic, the 31-year-old has revealed that only the sacking of Emery and the subsequent appointment of Arteta saved his Arsenal career. “The club showed me little respect even though I was the captain. It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, apart from one person: Mikel Arteta,” he said.

“When I met him for the first time, my bags were already packed and I was about to hop on a plane. With my heart and soul, I had already left the club. I said to him, 'The solution is for me to go.' Mikel told me he wanted me to stay. But I wasn’t sure. I remember speaking to my dad at the time. He told me, ‘Let’s go.’ For the first time ever, he told me to run away. He said there was no future for me at Arsenal."

“I could not imagine myself playing for Arsenal again. I said to him [Arteta], ‘I just want to be somewhere where the fans don’t boo me.’ But he was so convincing. For the first time in my life, I took a decision without talking to my family first. I got up and said, ‘OK, I’ll stay.’"

Arsenal exit

Xhaka stayed for several more years and developed into a key player under Arteta. Many Arsenal fans were sad to see him depart for Bayer Leverkusen, where the Swiss has formed one of the Bundesliga's best midfield partnerships with World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios, but Arsenal had no intention of extending his contract.

“On one hand I was a bit sad, but on the other hand I was also quite happy because I didn’t like that uncertainty," he said. "Leverkusen’s plan for me was clear. Leaving Arsenal after seven years wasn’t easy on an emotional level after all the good and the bad things, but it was totally the right decision. I’m happy it worked out so well.”

Leverkusen are top of the Bundesliga and the only side in Europe's top five leagues to have not lost a game so far this season. Xhaka already came close to winning a league title last term, but Arsenal ultimately crumbled. Could something similar happen at Leverkusen?

“You need a bit of luck. I’m certain that we would have won the league if we hadn’t lost William Saliba and [Thomas] Partey. It’s the same thing here. If we all stay fit and healthy, and nothing stupid happens, we can stay up there for a good while longer.”