**Mikel Arteta**talked about the time of Granit Xhaka at Arsenal.
The Swiss spent seven seasons in North London before he returned to Germany to sign for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023. Part of an invincible domestic double with Die Werkself, he arguably should have stayed with the Gunners. However, the player felt it was time to depart.
Indeed, things were often tough in England for a midfielder whose discipline and mobility were questioned. Yet, this technical quality, grit, and leadership were never in doubt for the **Arsenal**manager, who found an ideal role for him in his system as a more advanced member of the midfield.
“When we signed him, it was for the right reason, because he was playing a different role. But he was excellent, when you see him playing for the national team and with Bayer Leverkusen in a deeper role he did very well, as well as the necessity of the team or the understanding of the manager or the coach about a player or the chemistry that he can create around other players as well.
“We believed that Granit’s position had to be modified. It brought him a challenge as well, but I think that was quite positive for him to say: ‘I’m going to show everyone that I can do it,’ and Granit needs that as well in his personality.
“I loved every minute that we spent together. When I joined, he was in a special moment in his life and career, and between all of us, we tried to guide him, to give him a different perspective, and make him feel loved and valued, and he responded in an incredible way.
“He made me a better coach, he helped us to develop and improve a lot as a football team and as a club, and I will be eternally grateful because I have great memories with him.
“I already did it once and we extended his contract and when he came in and explained the reasons, you have to understand the human being, you have to be grateful.
“It was a unique opportunity for him to go back to Germany to his family, and there were certain things that he wanted to experience as well. I believe it was the right moment, he was very honest and straightforward as he always is, and we found a way to find a good solution for all of us.
“It wasn’t an easy decision because I knew the impact that he could still have at the club and on the team. But then when you have one of those leaders as well, you need to have them in the right frame of mind and fully committed and him feeling that this is the best place for him.
“Granit, when he expressed his idea, the reasons why he believed he was better now or the right timing after everything we went through together to take another challenge, and take that journey somewhere else, it really made me think whether it was the right thing again to try to persuade him to stay if he was having already such a deep feeling about it.”