After clashing with the home fans during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in the middle of the season, Granit Xhaka almost quit the club, but he insists he wants to improve his relationship with the fans.
Xhaka has been a key member of the squad since his arrival from Monchengladbach in 2016 but he has proved a divisive figure amongst the fans, some of whom have been critical of his performances.
The low point of the relationship came in October of last year when Xhaka appeared to swear at the crowd when he was taken off midway through the game against Crystal Palace.
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The Switzerland international went on to be stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery, and he has admitted in an interview with The Players' Tribune that his bags were packed as he planned his exit from the north London club.
My bags were packed. Xhaka told The Players Tribune that he was done with the club. Finished. There was a contract on the table from another club, and I just had to sign it.
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He said that he had barely begun to move when he heard the boos. A lot of people were in the corner. I was surprised. I have never experienced anything like this before. I will always remember when I got close to the tunnel, I looked up at the fans sitting there.
I can still see their faces when I close my eyes. I can see their anger. It is not that they don't like me. It is different. This is not ok. It was pure hate. I am not exaggerating.
I wouldn't want it for my worst enemy. I don't like walking those last metres to the tunnel if we have lost. There are the same people sitting.
I just keep my head down. I lived through that nightmare once. I don't want to do it again.
Mikel Arteta was the new boss of the club in December of last year and he convinced Xhaka to stay in north London.
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Despite the constant scrutiny of his performances, Xhaka has been an influential figure in Arteta's Arsenal rebuild, and while the 29-year-old admits his relationship with the fans may never be the same, he does want to improve that relationship.
Xhaka said that he made the right decision because he is still here.
I understand that we will never be best friends, but I hope we can treat each other with honesty and respect. I want you to know that whatever I do on the pitch, it comes from the right place.
I want us to have a better relationship. I want us to understand each other better. That is why I am telling you this. You have to understand that our lives can be very difficult, too, even though we are privileged.
You don't get to know about our problems because we don't talk and we don't do anything together. We are just players running around for 90 minutes and then we are done.
In the summer of last year, Xhaka was linked with a move away from the club.
Despite the speculation that he is ready to stay at the Emirates Stadium, Xhaka has said that he wants to achieve something special with the club.
He said that he still has his heart in it. My challenge was to help the team, not to change their opinions about me. If someone changed their mind because of that, then great.
I understand that we will never be best friends, but I hope we can treat each other with respect. If I am late in a tackle, it is because I am fighting for my team. I care if I lose my temper.
Sometimes, I care too much. I know a few things, but you can't predict the future in football. I have two years left on my contract. I love this club. I think Mikel is building a great team. I want to achieve something special here.
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