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Tag: Granit Xhaka

  • Granit Xhaka closer to Arsenal exit

    Granit Xhaka closer to Arsenal exit

    Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is ready to leave the Premier League club.

    That’s according to BILD’s football chief Christian Falk.

    He told The Sun: “Xhaka’s contract runs out in 2024. Leverkusen have already had concrete talks with the Arsenal player last summer but, at that time, the club asked for £26m, which was too much for Leverkusen.

    “Now, they’ve heard about a price tag is £13m and this would be doable for Leverkusen.”

    Gunners boss Mikel Arteta talked up the prospect of Xhaka staying next season.

  • Europa League: Arsenal progress to knockout stage

    Europa League: Arsenal progress to knockout stage

    English Premier League side Arsenal have qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League after defeating PSV of The Netherlands 1-0 on Thursday in a rescheduled game.

    Arsenal’s only goal of the encounter came in the 71st minute of the game courtesy of Granit Xhaka.

    Arsenal secured 12 points from four wins in the Europa League so far this season.

    Arsenal are now guaranteed to finish in the top two of Group A.

    The Gunners are five points clear of second-place PSV ahead of the return fixture in Eindhoven in a week’s time.

    A draw in that match will be enough for Arsenal to clinch top spot in the group and go straight into the competition’s last 16.

    Teams that finish second in their group will face a playoff against a side that drops out of the Champions League.

  • EPL: Xhaka needs to apologize – Unai Emery

    EPL: Xhaka needs to apologize – Unai Emery

    Arsenal manager Unai Emery says Granit Xhaka should apologise after he was involved in an angry confrontation with home fans during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

    The Gunners captain was booed while he walked off the pitch at Emirates Stadium, prompting him to cup his ear.

    Emery said: “Yes [he should apologise]. We make mistakes, we need to apologise and we suggested for him to do that.

    “Really, he knows he was wrong and he feels inside very deep.”

    It is not the first time Xhaka has been booed by his own fans this season, with Emery publicly defending the Switzerland midfielder after a game against Aston Villa last month.

    That uneasy relationship with the Gunners fans did not stop Emery appointing Xhaka as club captain in September after the summer departure of Laurent Koscielny.

    However, Emery has refused to confirm whether Xhaka will remain captain after Sunday’s incident.

    “At the moment I am not speaking and I don’t want to think about that,” the Spaniard added.

    “It is not easy for him and for the team. We spoke yesterday, and Sunday night also, and this morning.

    “He trained normally with the group but he is devastated and sad about the situation.”

  • Crystal Palace fight back to draw at Emirates

    Crystal Palace fight back to draw at Emirates

    Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka was involved in an angry confrontation with his own supporters as Crystal Palace came from two goals down to earn a point in an ill-tempered atmosphere at Emirates Stadium.

    The Gunners were two up inside nine minutes as Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz took advantage of poor defending at corners – but it was all downhill from there for Arsenal and manager Unai Emery.

    Palace pulled one back before half-time when Luka Milivojevic scored from the spot following a VAR intervention after referee Martin Atkinson initially shown Wilfried Zaha a yellow card for diving in a tangle with Calum Chambers.

    And Palace were level seven minutes after the break when Jordan Ayew headed in James McArthur’s cross at the far post.

    The game turned toxic just after the hour when Xhaka was substituted to roars of delight from Arsenal’s fans, the newly-appointed captain reacting angrily to jeers at his slow departure by waving and cupping his ear sarcastically to the home support, exchanging words before taking off his shirt and disappearing down the tunnel.

    Arsenal’s frustration was summed up when a late strike by Sokratis was ruled out for a foul by Chambers on Gary Cahill.

    BBC

  • Emery reveals why Xhaka was named Arsenal captain

    Emery reveals why Xhaka was named Arsenal captain

    Arsenal manager, Unai Emery has revealed the reasons behind his decision to name Granit Xhaka as the club’s new permanent captain.

    The Swiss international had worn the armband during the opening weeks of the new season and has now been appointed captain on a permanent basis, replacing Laurent Koscielny who left the club to join Bordeaux this summer.

    Xhaka’s appointment as captain is likely to divide the club’s players and fanbase, with Emery as well as the midfielder having come under-fire for a series of below-par performances this season.

    The 27-year-old was jeered by sections of the club’s support following his substitution in the win over Aston Villa last weekend. However Emery has defended the player and backed Xhaka to thrive in his role as leader.

    Speaking on Friday at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United, Emery said: “He (Xhaka) is mature, he has experience. We are living under pressure and criticism, as a coach, as a player as a club.

    “The most important thing is to stand up in each moment. Go ahead with his quality, with his behaviour, with his commitment and the players voted him as the first leadership.

    “I spoke with him, we want to change that outside opinion [of him]. The respect he has inside is very important.

    “I trust and believe in him. He is a good man, a good professional, a good player. Sometimes he has made mistakes but the most important thing is to analyse, to learn and correct those mistakes.

    “His challenge is to change that opinion and above all, with his personality, and improving each match and giving us his help every time.”

  • EPL: Unai Emery names new Arsenal captain

    EPL: Unai Emery names new Arsenal captain

    Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has named midfielder Granit Xhaka as the club’s new permanent captain, replacing Laurent Koscielny, who left for Bordeaux in the summer.

    Emery told the squad of his decision on Friday, after consulting with players.

    The Switzerland international, 27, has led the side in six of their eight games in all competitions this season.

    Arsenal’s next game is away to Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday.

    Emery is still deliberating over a vice-captain, with forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang understood to be the leading contenders.

  • EPL: Arsenal too scared of Watford, says Xhaka

    EPL: Arsenal too scared of Watford, says Xhaka

    Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka says the Gunners “were too scared” as they let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Watford.

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice in the first half for the visitors but the Hornets hit back after the break through Tom Cleverley and a late Roberto Pereyra penalty.

    Watford finished with 31 shots on goal, 23 of those coming in the second half.

    “No-one wanted the ball. In the end we are happy to take a point,” Xhaka said.

    “We didn’t show our game in the second half, we were too scared.”

    Xhaka added: “Every team in the Premier League is strong enough to score but you have to keep calm, to show good character, to be mentally strong. We weren’t today.”