A player who is leaving Arsenal this summer refused to join in the lap of honour on the final day of the season.

The star revealed that he didn’t take part due to being too emotional about his departure.

Mikel Arteta’s squad held a lap of honour at Emirates Stadium after their final game of the season against Everton.

The Gunners came close to winning the Premier League title but ended up finishing two points behind champions Manchester City.

For one player this was his final campaign with Arsenal following a lengthy spell at the club.

Mohamed Elneny will officially leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of this month.

The Egypt international was Arsenal’s longest-serving player having been at the club since January 2016.

Elneny expressed his love for the club and the supporters.

Elneny told Arsenal’s official website: ‘I love this club so much. I love the fans, I love everything about Arsenal.

‘It breaks my heart – that’s why I refused to take to the field [on the lap of honour] because I was so full of emotion.

‘But that’s life, my time here has come to an end and I’m very proud of what I’ve done for this club.

‘I love these fans and I gave everything that I had. I appreciate everything they did for me, in the good moments and the bad, and they’re always going to be in my heart forever.’

During his time at Arsenal, Elneny made 161 appearances and scored six goals, which included a late substitute appearance in the final against Chelsea as his side won the FA Cup in 2017. He also had a spell on loan at Besiktas in the 2019-20 campaign.

Elneny had found himself on the fringes at Arsenal last season as he was restricted to just three Premier League appearances.

The 31-year-old isn’t the only member of the Arsenal first-team squad who is leaving the club, with defender Cedric and goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo also departing.