Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka admits he only stayed with Arsenal due to manager Mikel Arteta.

Xhaka admits his blow-up with fans had him preparing to leave before Arteta's intervention.

"The club didn't show me much respect, even though I was captain," he recalled to the Athletic.

"It was clear they wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible. There was one exception. Mikel Arteta.

"When I first met him, my bags were already packed and I was ready to jump on the plane.

"My heart and soul had already left the club. I told him ) that the solution was for me to slip away. But Mikel said he wanted me to stay.

"I couldn't imagine playing for Arsenal again.

"I told him I just want to be somewhere where the fans don't boo me. But he was very persuasive.

"For the first time in my life I made a decision without talking to my family first.

"I stood up and said that I will stay. From that day I returned to training and we behaved as if nothing had happened."