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Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka admits he was close to leaving the club under Unai Emery.
Xhaka was stripped of the captaincy after a row with supporters, and it looked like his days at the club were numbered.
But Mikel Arteta took over as manager and brought Xhaka back into the fold, making him a key player in central midfield.
“I was completely surprised by this. I am a person, I have emotions, things hurt me too,” he told Swiss publication NZZ am Sonntag.
“The disparaging gesture in the direction of the fans that I made back then might not be done today.
“I didn’t go to training for two days, wondering what happened in the first place. My heart was already gone from the club.
“The fact that I’m still there today is thanks to coach Mikel Arteta.
“He first wanted me to explain how I feel and why I had acted this way… I was able to describe my motives to him and let out what was on my mind.”