Arsenal player slammed on US Tv for ‘Petulant’ Acts
Craig Burley has claimed that Granit Xhaka’s ‘petulant’ actions for Arsenal are a ‘problem’ in his game, as he told ESPN.
The former Scotland international was talking about Xhaka petulant act of picking up silly yellow and red cards and how it affects the Arsenal midfielder during the latter stages of matches.
Last season, the 29-year-old picked up two red cards and his list of yellow cards are just growing by the game.
Since Xhaka’s debut campaign in the Premier League in 2016, no-one has picked up more yellow cards than the hard-hitting player.
He has 52 yellow cards to his name from 188 matches, the player next in line is Fernandinho, who was booked on 32 occasions from his 165 matches in Manchester City colours.
Either way, this is what Burley had to say about Xhaka’s actions out on the pitch whilst speaking to US TV on ESPN.
“Let me tell you about Granit Xhaka,” said Burley. “I saw quite a bit of the games. I have no problem with sometimes people being overzealous in challenges and that’s the kind of player he is.
“A lot of his yellow cards are also for petulant little flick-outs and kicks-outs. That gives him a problem later on in games.
“I have seen him last year being booked in games and then unable to make a challenge at 85-90 minutes on the edge of the box, for fear of being red-carded or a second yellow and the other team have scored.
“Himself as an experienced player, through his petulance, not only with petulant challenges, but a petulant reaction is putting himself in a problematic position.
You have to make better decisions because it has an impact on your game going forward and he doesn’t (learn).”
Xhaka Likely To be Replaced?
Mikel Arteta has added Fabio Vieira to his squad this summer and are close to signing Man City Zinchenko.
Whilst Zinchenko can play at left-back, he is probably better suited to the midfield, with Vieira also vying for those spots.
Bearing that in mind, it puts Xhaka’s starting spot in jeopardy because Martin Odegaard might don the captain’s armband next season, whilst the Swiss star isn’t getting ahead of Thomas Partey, who is more defensive-minded and a better all-round player.
Either way, whatever happens with Xhaka, one thing is a constant and that’s managers coming into the club continually picking him, so his character and bravery out on the pitch can’t be messed with
