“This is now the right and perfect time for me to speak, because i feel Arsenal fans deserve an explanation”- Granit Xhaka finally reveals the hidden truth why he left Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen

When Xabi Alonso was appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen last October, the team was struggling and facing the threat of relegation. However, Alonso’s arrival sparked a remarkable turnaround, and Leverkusen ended up qualifying for European football. Heading into the new season, expectations were high.

The summer transfer window brought in star players like Grimaldo, Jonas Hofmann, and Victor Boniface, adding to the excitement among Leverkusen supporters. Yet, the most headline-grabbing signing was former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka. The Swiss international, who had a polarizing tenure in London, was seen as a crucial addition for Alonso’s tactical plans. This move has been vindicated, as Xhaka has been playing some of the best football of his career, helping Leverkusen push for a potential title challenge. Importantly, Xhaka brings invaluable leadership and experience to the team, though he downplays this role:

“What does boss mean? The word is a bit big. I didn’t come to Leverkusen as a boss, but because I was looking for a new challenge. I felt like my time at Arsenal was over for me after seven years in London. I came here as an experienced player and person. The other players see that I can give them something of what I have learned. That’s part of my role here,” Xhaka told NZZ am Sonntag.

Xhaka explained his decision to leave Arsenal and join Leverkusen: “It was sometimes written that I was coming back to Germany because of my wife. That’s not the truth. Like me, she was very happy in London. I made the decision solely as a footballer and athlete. I came to a top club in Germany that has a plan and wants to achieve something. Of course, the change was easier for us because, like me, we used to live in Düsseldorf and it is close to Mönchengladbach, where my wife grew up.”

Xhaka highlighted the differences between playing for Arsenal and Leverkusen: “You can only see what it’s really like if you can train here every day and be there. You can work in peace at Bayer Leverkusen, there is no chaos, other clubs are more in focus. This is an advantage. At Arsenal the pressure is different. But we have high ambitions because we know that we have enormous potential in the team. If we keep working like this and keep our feet on the ground, we can achieve something.”

For Xhaka, the focus is now on football, and he shared his experiences of playing against Alonso compared to being coached by him: “He was extremely unpleasant. Thanks to his cleverness, his pass security and his timing, you never even had to press against him. That’s what he conveys to us today. I have the feeling that I have taken another step forward in this regard in the two months here in Leverkusen. He tells us in small details what turns a good midfielder into a top midfielder.”

With Alonso maximizing his squad’s potential and Xhaka fitting perfectly into his role, Leverkusen is poised for a promising season. As of matchday six, they sit atop the Bundesliga table and show no signs of slowing down.