Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal midfielder, has spoken out about his departure from the club, claiming that he was shown "little respect" and that it was clear they wanted to get rid of him. Xhaka left the Gunners in the summer for Bayer Leverkusen in a £21.5million deal after spending seven years at Arsenal. Despite his criticism, he did separate manager Mikel Arteta from those who he claims wanted him out. Speaking to The Athletic, Xhaka revealed that Arteta wanted him to stay, but it wasn't enough to salvage the relationship.

Successful stint at Arsenal

Xhaka's time at Arsenal saw him make 297 appearances, scoring 23 goals and providing 29 assists. He also had the honor of wearing the captain's armband for a brief period in 2019. However, his departure suggests that things had soured between him and the club.

Departure to Bayer Leverkusen

The Swiss midfielder made the switch to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, where he joined forces with manager Xabi Alonso. Since his move, Xhaka has been in impressive form, starting in all 15 of their league matches and playing all but 22 minutes. Leverkusen currently sit at the top of the Bundesliga table, four points ahead of reigning champions Bayern Munich.

Passing prowess

Xhaka's performances at Leverkusen have been outstanding, particularly in his passing game. He leads Europe's top seven leagues in passes into the final third, registering an impressive 164 passes. This puts him ahead of the likes of Aleix Garcia from Girona, Rodri from Manchester City, Toni Kroos from Real Madrid, and Daley Blind, also from Girona.

It's clear that Xhaka is thriving in his new environment, and it seems that his departure from Arsenal has only fueled his determination to succeed.