Xhaka booed, gets home visit Liverpool await crisis-hit Gunners in League Cup
ARSENAL captain Granit Xhaka was visited at home by three senior Arsenal players after he was booed by his own team’s supporters when he was substituted in the 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Some supporters cheered when it was announced that Xhaka, who has struggled for consistency during his time at the club, was to be replaced by Bukayo Saka in the 61st minute.
Fans expressed frustration at Xhaka taking a long time to leave the pitch, with boos ringing out across the stadium, and the Swiss midfielder responded by cupping his hand to his ear, while he also appeared to tell supporters to ‘f*** off ’ before storming down the tunnel.
The Arsenal captain was jeered by his own fans as he was substituted, before reportedly swearing at the crowd and rejecting a handshake from Unai Emery!
As reported by The Athletic, Xhaka’s team-mates were concerned about him following the incident, with three of them visiting his house.
Lucas Torreira, who was warming up when the incident occurred, was moved to tears and had to be consoled by Hector Bellerin. Torreira turned to the crowd and asked why they had acted in such a way.
Xhaka was only officially confirmed as Arsenal’s club captain just over a month ago, but there have been suggestions that the 27-year-old could now be stripped of the armband.
When directly asked in his press conference whether Xhaka would remain captain, Arsenal head coach Unai Emery replied: ‘It’s not the moment to speak about that because first I want to speak with him and the club.
“We need to stay calm but, really, he was wrong.” Emery insisted that Xhaka should have dealt with the situation in a better manner.
“We are working, me and the club to manage playing under pressure, when under pressure to have our minds clear,’ said the Arsenal boss.
“In a difficult moment our heart can be hot, but our minds can be clever. We are going to speak about that because the reaction was wrong.
“We are going to speak (about that) inside, with the players and the club.
“We are here because we have supporters. We are the workers inside the club but we play for them.
“We need to have a lot of respect for them when they are applauding us but also when they are criticising us.”
Arsenal legend Ian Wright was quick to criticise the club’s skipper after his relationship with the fans plummeted to new lows.
Wright insisted the Switzerland international must apologise immediately for his outburst.
“I don’t like any players getting booed,’ Wright said on Match of the Day.
‘But this is the captain.
Now I
LONDON — Arsenal would probably have preferred an easier League Cup opponent than Premier League leaders Liverpool as they bid to regroup following captain Granit Xhaka’s tantrum and a poor run of form.
However, that is the task that faces the Gunners tomorrow heading to Anfield for their fourth round clash.
Unai Emery’s players have won just twice in their last eight Premier League games as opposed to Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League holders who have dropped just two points thus far this term.
Theirs is one of three all Premier League matches on Wednesday — the rest of the games are on today — with Chelsea hosting Manchester United and Aston Villa at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool’s last domestic honour dates back to lifting this trophy in 2012 but despite a desire to end that run Klopp is likely to field a very different line-up to the one that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the Premier League at the weekend.
Mohamed Salah is one of the Liverpool stars who will be rested but Arsenal’s Emery may be tempted to select Xhaka to refocus his mind after his histrionics on Sunday storming down the tunnel after being substituted during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Arsenal veteran Hector Bellerin — who is ruled out of the match due to injury — has called for everyone to calm down and pull together.
“It’s time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are together,” he tweeted.
Unlike Xhaka Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic
think that they’re frustrated with the fact that he’s not run off.
“He’s now goading them. We’re talking about fans that have watched him in the four years he’s been there have a handful of good games and he’s treating the fans like that.
“He should apologise — that’s the captain. He should be apologising. He should have apologised already. That’s the guy they chose as the captain. That’s not captain’s behaviour.
“Arsenal fans have showed a lot of patience to him and the performances he’s put in. He owes them a lot more and he’s acted like that. “He’s the captain and he’s got the responsibility to take that on board. He can’t go and do that. I can understand the Ozil situation but he’s the captain — the manager’s got faith in him!”
Moments after the final whistle in north London, Alexandre Lacazette got himself embroiled in the drama after l i k i ng a n enjoyed a memorable weekend in the best senses of the term scoring a hat-trick — his first goals for the club and a small initial repayment on the 58 million they paid Borussia Dortmund for him.
It was only his second start for the club since his arrival in August and the 21-year-old United States star should get another run out tomorrow against Manchester United.
And that is certainly something he would relish.
“(Frank Lampard the Chelsea manager) believes in me and he’s told me that,” said Pulisic.
“You have to keep working hard in training and earn my spot, that’s how it is at the highest level. I’m going to continue to do so. This is hopefully just the start.”
Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri as manager after just one season with Derby County in the second tier Championship, is delighted with the form of the team but warned his players not to get all comfortable.
“I’m just really pleased where we’ve got to,” Lampard told the club website.
“We’re working hard, but we have to be aware we can improve and if we get overconfident in this moment and start making crazy expectations on ourselves from within — let everyone else talk.”
explicit Instagram post calling for Emery to be sacked and slamming Xhaka for his actions.
“Troopz”, who is known for his appearances on Youtube channel AFTV, slammed on Instagram: ‘I’m sorry, I’m done with this now. You can’t be 2-0 up at home to Palace and draw.
“Emery I’ve back you but bro, enough is enough. Xhaka can f*** himself as well. Never wanna see him in an Arsenal top again!!’
The French striker, who just returned from an ankle injury, has since appeared to have unliked the social media post.
Bellerin, who many Arsenal fans hoped may get the captain’s armband instead of Xhaka, called for unity as he became the first player to speak out following the dramatic events in north London.
Bellerin, making reference to the Xhaka incident, said: ‘We are all humans, we all have emotions, and sometimes it’s not easy dealing with them. It’s time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are together.’
After conceding a two-goal lead, the mood inside the Emirates became fractious on the weekend and many fans also voiced their support for out-offavour Mesut Ozil.
The German playmaker, the Gunners’ most creative player, has been frozen out by Emery so far this season and supporters made their feelings clear by singing the popular “We’ve got Ozil” chant in the stands. There were boos at the final whistle inside the Emirates as Arsenal dropped even more points in the Premier League.
Despite an encouraging and hopeful summer transfer window, the club currently sit four points off fourth-place as they desperately seek a way back into the Champions League after three years out of the competition. — dailyonline.