In Italy, 'football league not good enough' - Mkhitaryan

Roma Armenian pro midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Photo: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images

Henrikh Mkhitaryan explains why leaving Arsenal for Roma on a permanent basis was ‘the right decision’ and ‘football in Italy is under-rated.’


Following his loan spell, the Armenia international terminated his Gunners contract by mutual consent to join the Giallorossi as a free agent.

“I always had it in my mind to play well and to help the team and then, at the end of the season, to see if we could get an agreement between myself, Roma and Arsenal to be able to stay here on a permanent basis,” he told the official Roma website.

“I’m very happy to be here now. I think I made a good decision, the right decision for myself and my career, and I’m looking forward to another season 

“Before I came here I was listening to a lot of people who would say the league is not good enough, the teams are not good enough… but I can say they are totally wrong. From the first game I had, against Sassuolo, I realised that Italian football is more than people talk about.

“I was really impressed with the quality of the players, even at the lower teams they have some great players.

“For me it was really impressive, because I wasn’t expecting such a good level of football from all the teams. I am enjoying playing football here in Italy and I feel good playing against all the different teams.”