Granit Xhaka Reveals What He Told Mikel Arteta Before Arsenal Exit

Granit Xhaka has revealed that he personally asked Mikel Arteta to allow him to leave Arsenal in 2023 after deciding the time had come for him to return to the Bundesliga.

The former Gunners captain was speaking ahead of Sunderland' s Europa League fixture when he was asked about his decision to return to England, having initially expected his move away from Arsenal to bring his time in the Premier League to an end for the remainder of his career.

Xhaka spent seven years in North London before joining Bayer Leverkusen , where he signed a five-year contract. At the time, the move appeared likely to represent the final Premier League chapter of his career.

"When I left Arsenal in 2023, I signed a five-year contract with Leverkusen," Xhaka said.