Granit Xhaka has insisted that his previous falling out with Arsenal fans was nothing more than “a misunderstanding” which he was glad to rectify.
The midfielder has been speaking to Blick after completing a move away from Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
The midfielder has decided to return to Germany to work under Xabi Alonso, bringing an end to a seven year stay at the Emirates following a move in July 2016.
He had initially been well received at the club before a very public falling out with the fanbase in 2019 when he was captain and reacted badly to being withdrawn from a game, throwing his shirt in anger and reacting negatively when he was booed by the fanbase.
That looked like it would be the end of his Arsenal career, but he and Mikel Arteta worked hard to rebuild his relationship with the club and the fans, resulting in him becoming a firm favourite once more and a key player under Arteta in recent years.
Indeed, some were sad to see him leave this summer, despite the imminent arrival of Declan Rice to replace him in Arsenal’s midfield.
He’s now looked back at the incident and insisted it was nothing more than a misunderstanding, one he was glad he and the fans could work out in the end.
“I was Arsenal captain in 2019. Then came this story with the fans,” he said.
“I never had any problems with the boys and the club – it was more a misunderstanding between the fans and me. Coming back to Arsenal like that afterwards gave me even more strength. I was able to show what personality is in me.
“I don’t like talking about myself. But you can also praise yourself if the journalists don’t praise you that much (laughs). Seriously, you learn from things like that. You get stronger.
“At the end I was allowed to leave to great applause. That was my number one goal. Am I a ready leader? I would not say that. I’m sure I’ll still make mistakes, that’s part of it. But certainly, less than before.”
