Date published: Friday 26th January 2018 2:00
<img src=”"http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622.jpg" alt="" srcset="http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622.jpg 700w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-300×157.jpg 300w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-200×105.jpg 200w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-170×90.jpg 170w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-128×67.jpg 128w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-469×245.jpg 469w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/22191803/GettyImages.827734622-236×124.jpg 236w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" title="Jose Mourinho Henrikh Mkhitaryan" />
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s national coach says he thinks the Armenia midfielder “had a problem” with Jose Mourinho.
Mkhitaryan moved to Arsenal earlier this week in a straight swap deal with Alexis Sanchez after failing to fulfill his potential at Old Trafford.
Mkhitaryan joined United from Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for £26.3million, but he finished his United career with just five goals and six assists from 39 Premier League appearances.
And Artur Petrosyan says Mkhitaryan had been frustrated by Mourinho’s defensive approach.
Petrosyan said: “We are very happy with this transfer from Manchester United. His style of play will be better suited at Arsenal.
“It is my impression that I think Henrikh had a problem with the coach [Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford] and, at Arsenal, it will be another thing and not the same situation.
“There will not be so much pressure on him defensively. I think Wenger is better for Henrikh.
“He is always one of the best players in the Premier league but, under this manager he will become even stronger.”
The Armenia coach also said he was “not happy with Mourinho’s decision not to play him.
“It is his club, his team, he knows what he wants. I was sad he did not play the last matches. It is good he has left.”
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1587724" src=”"http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="367" srcset="http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal.jpg 700w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-300×157.jpg 300w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-200×105.jpg 200w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-170×90.jpg 170w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-128×67.jpg 128w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-469×245.jpg 469w, http://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2018/01/24090809/Henrikh-Mkhitaryan-Arsenal-236×124.jpg 236w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Mourinho this week admitted Mkhitaryan’s form could have been better for UNited, but believed the deal was a fantastic one for both clubs.
“Could he perform better with us, could I take more from his talent, maybe, could he give a little more also to adapt to us, maybe but I don’t think regrets, he’s in our history, so good feeling for everybody and a very specific transfer between rivals in a big country which I have to say must happen more times,” said Mourinho.