Real Sociedad signing Nacho Monreal admits Arsenal boss Unai Emery didn't want him to leave.

Indeed, Monreal revealed Emery wanted to start him in Sunday's derby against Tottenham, which finished 2-2.

He said at his presentation yesterday: "Last year let's say that an agreement could not be reached, because it was Emery's first year, and he was blunt from the outset saying that I was not leaving.

"And this year the parties have been more open. Emery kept insisting on continuing, he even asked me to play the derby against Tottenham. But the most sensible thing was that I did not play, once the agreement with La Real was reached. It made no sense."

Monreal also stated: "Several factors influenced, I have been away from home for eight years, I am happy and proud of the trajectory that I have had, and it still continues because it is an important step for me to come to La Real. It has not been easy because in Arsenal they loved me a lot and I was a starter, but thinking about my future and looking at the long term this is a good step for me.

"And I have always said that returning to Spain, La Real is one of the few teams that I would like to go to. It's like being home again."