Henrikh Mkhitaryan has aimed a jab at former Arsenal boss Unai Emery over his style of management, while also refusing to rule out a move back to North London.
The Armenia captain is currently on loan from Arsenal at Roma and has produced some impressive displays despite seeing his minutes limited by abductor and thigh muscle injuries.
Mkhitaryan has provided six goals and three assists in his 13 Serie A appearances this season, with his versatility meaning manager Paulo Fonseca has used him in attacking midfield and either wing at times.
The 31-year-old moved to Arsenal from Manchester United in a swap deal with Alexis Sanchez in 2018 but has opened up on why he never felt at home at the Emirates - and Emery appears to have been a problem.
“When I was at Arsenal, I had different things asked from me by the coach, people were expecting different things from here,” he told The Times.
“The philosophy of Emery was different from Fonseca, but here I’m feeling much better because we’re playing better football and I think it matched me.
"I prefer Fonseca’s football because we’re playing very offensively, we’re trying to have the ball all the time here and of course I like this kind of game.”
Fonseca has grown into a great admirer of Mkhitaryan and has spoken of his desire to make the loan move permanent, though current suspensions on football have thrown the season into uncertainty.
However, Mkhitaryan refused to rule out returning to Arsenal - who are now under the management of Mikel Arteta - saying: “I can’t say anything at the moment because the season is stopped, we don’t know when we’ll start playing again and what will happen in the summer.
“Football changes so quickly. One day you’re here, the other you’re there. You never know what can happen and what will happen with you.”
He also provided on how training is continuing despite Italy being in lockdown, adding: “We have the programme from the team for training at home, so I’m trying to keep myself fit.
“When I heard the situation wasn’t the best and everyone was asking us to stay home, I stopped going outside for a walk or a run. It’s better to stay inside and be an example to everyone, to show them that this is more important, to follow the rules and be at home.”
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