Former Arsenal Captain Reveals Why He Left to Win Bundesliga Title in Germany

Xhaka was a key player for Arsenal in 2017 and 2020 when the Gunners won the FA Cup.

Former Arsenal Captain Reveals Why He Left to Win Bundesliga Title in Germany, Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka has expressed no regrets about his move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Xhaka joined Arsenal from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016 for £30-35 million. He initially struggled to adapt to the Premier League, receiving red cards and facing criticism from fans.

However, under Mikel Arteta, Xhaka’s form improved, and he became a key player for Arsenal. He played important roles in Arsenal’s FA Cup victories in 2017 and 2020 and scored several memorable goals during his time at the club.

In an Amazon Prime documentary about Leverkusen’s last season, Xhaka revealed that leaving Arsenal was a relief for him and his family.

“My wife was there for the first meeting with Leverkusen. I wanted to know how she felt. It was pure relief for me. I said: ‘Yes! It’s not just me who feels that way, but the family too,” he said.

Xhaka also reflected on the challenges he faced at Arsenal. “I was lucky enough to be booed in 2019, as captain at Arsenal, in front of 60,000 fans,” he elaborated.

The Gunners midfield man is unfazed by the Manchester City striker’s form going into Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown.

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“I say lucky because that made me brutally strong. I’m grateful that I got out of there,” he continued. “Because it was a dark day for my family, my wife and my parents. I think it was even harder for them than it was for me,” he added.

The Swiss midfielder played a crucial role in Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign in his first season.