Henrikh Mkhitaryan has discussed his reasons for leaving Arsenal to join Serie A side Roma on a one-year loan deal.
The 30-year-old had been at the Emirates Stadium for 18 months following his swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United.
But the Armenian midfielder failed to impress in his time at north London, and has revealed that he was unhappy at Arsenal.
Mkhitaryan says he felt he had to leave England to find his love for football again, after three years in the Premier League following his impressive spell at Borussia Dortmund.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 3")
“I have to enjoy playing football, no matter the place. In England, I no longer felt happy,” he told reporters.
“I got a call from my agent and I wanted to come, because it was a great opportunity for me. I didn’t even have a discussion with my agent about money.
“Maybe I was not fitting so well in English football, so I think a change was good.
The last month at Arsenal I was not happy, so that’s why I said it was better to come to Roma and to get happy and to get the pleasure from playing football again.
“Now I am in Rome and I focus on them. This is not a step backwards as great football is played here. I wanted to change scenery and for me it is an opportunity to be seized.”
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