DEVASTATED
Emery fears no way back for Xhaka
UNAI EMERY fears Granit Xhaka may never be forgiven by Arsenal fans.
Xhaka has cut a disconsolate figure since his strop after being substituted against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Swiss midfielder is so “devastated” by supporters turning on him that Arsenal are even prepared to offer him counselling, rather than throw the book at him.
Xhaka (inset) was made skipper after Emery’s dressing room poll of the players.
But there appears no way back after his sarcastic conducting of the crowd’s jeers and mouthing “f*** off” at a section of his critics.
Gunners boss Emery said: “My ideal future is to watch Xhaka playing again with every supporter supporting him.
“I don’t know if I can, or if I will achieve it, but this is my idea. It is not easy for him and the team. He is devastated now and sad.
“We can maybe remember some similar situations in the past for players, and they came back.
“For example, I was speaking with Hector Bellerin and he told me he received some criticism three years ago at the Emirates because people weren’t happy with his performance, but he came back.
“The important thing is to transmit to people if they don’t like you in one moment, to work to change that situation.”
Emery has to Xhaka three times Sunday’s debacle.
He insisted: “I don’t need his apology because I know he is spoken since devastated. He is now very down and we need to support him.
“I know, and he knows, he was wrong, but the first thing is to raise him up again.
“Every player needs the supporters’ support but he feels the supporters don’t like him. We need to transmit a connection with them. “He is down, but the most important thing now is to look after him and his family, and to recover our best Granit Xhaka. We are responsible – me and the club.
“We know our responsibility is to help everybody, and also when making some mistakes to recognise it.
Xhaka, Calum Chambers and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are among the players Emery has left at home for tonight’s Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool.
Mesut Ozil, who has not featured in the last six matchday squads, is in the frame to make his first appearance in a month.