Deprecated: Optional parameter $page_id declared before required parameter $update_data is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/jecando/domains/goodforfans.com/old-news/assets/includes/functions_two.php on line 1752

Deprecated: Optional parameter $post_id declared before required parameter $update_data is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/jecando/domains/goodforfans.com/old-news/assets/includes/functions_two.php on line 1795

Deprecated: Optional parameter $group_id declared before required parameter $update_data is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/jecando/domains/goodforfans.com/old-news/assets/includes/functions_two.php on line 2442

Deprecated: Optional parameter $lang declared before required parameter $langs is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/jecando/domains/goodforfans.com/old-news/assets/includes/functions_two.php on line 5653
Mkhitaryan Reveals Reason For Choosing Roma Loan Option

Mkhitaryan Reveals Reason For Choosing Roma Loan Option

Henrikh Mkhitaryan says he left Arsenal to join AS Roma after losing his affection for football at the Emirates Stadium.

Mkhitaryan moved to the Stadio Olympico on a season-long loan deal last week after falling below expectations in an 18-month spell in North London.

Mkhitaryan joined Arsenal from Manchester United in January 2018 in a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez, but just after a season-and-a-half both players have ended up in Italy after the latter also joined Inter Milan.

Mkhitaryan played in all three Premier League games for Arsenal this season, but just like last term most of those appearances have been from the bench.

The Armenia captain reckons it was time to move on from England to rediscover his passion for the game.

"It was definitely my wish," Mkhitaryan said at Tuesday's presentation to the media.

"I wasn't playing often and I decided to make a change. I knew at Roma I would have had more chances. It will not have been easy for Arsenal, but now I'm here and I have the opportunity to perform.

"England now belongs to the past and I want to concentrate on Italy.

"Choosing Roma, I don't feel I've taken a step backwards because it's a great club. It was time for a change of scenery. It's important for a player to enjoy playing football, no matter where.

"In the last few months at Arsenal I no longer felt the same pleasure."

Mkhitaryan has shone for Armenia during the international break, scoring twice in his country’s 4-2 win over Bosnia after losing gallantly to Italy in their previous game.

Search