“I’m not happy with the way it ended between me and Arsenal fans”: Former Arsenal’s captain confirmed he’s going to make Emirates return in January after receiving permission from Arteta

Granit Xhaka, former Arsenal midfielder, will return to the Gunners on December 28 when Arsenal take on London rivals West Ham.

The former footballer has had a unique career in North London, experiencing the highs and lows that football can bring. The midfielder was scolded for not necessarily leaving the pitch after being substituted in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in 2019. The central midfielder was not afraid to retaliate as he put his hand to his ear and told fans to “f*** off” before throwing his shirt on the ground and storming off into the tunnel.

The midfielder had already packed his bags and was ready to leave north London when he met Mikel Arteta for the first time, but Xhaka was convinced to stay after meeting the Spaniard. The Swiss international finished his final season at Arsenal with seven goals and seven assists, and the fans were extremely vocal in chanting Xhaka’s name and asking him to stay after he provided the assist in his final appearance.

But according to The Athletic, Arsenal’s sporting director Edu has said that Arsenal are not prepared to offer him a new contract due to interest from Bayer Leverkusen.

Xhaka explained to the same newspaper: “On the one hand I was a bit sad (that Arsenal did not want to extend his contract), but on the other hand I was also quite happy because I didn’t like the uncertainty.”

Xhaka began his return to Germany in a positive way, helping Bayer Leverkusen to top spot in the Bundesliga. The former midfielder has benefited from Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso’s practical approach, which contrasts with Arteta’s preference for video analysis.

The Swiss midfielder also told The Athletic that although he does not regret leaving Arsenal, he is still very keen to see Arsenal win the Premier League title, so he watches as many Arsenal games as possible. He has also remained friends with many current players like Thomas Partey, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Cedric Soares, while he talks to Arteta’s assistant coach Carlos Cuesta almost every day.

Xhaka will take a break from the Bundesliga during the winter break, which runs from December 20 to January 12. During this time, the central midfielder is expected to return to the Emirates for the first time since leaving the club and take part in Arsenal’s Premier League game against West Ham.

Xhaka added: “This will be our chance to say a proper goodbye to the players, staff and fans.”