London (AFP) – Unai Emery refused to confirm if Granit Xhaka will remain as Arsenal captain after admitting the Swiss star was wrong to become embroiled in an astonishing feud with Gunners fans during Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Emery’s side blew a two-goal lead at the Emirates Stadium before Xhaka’s tantrum laid bare the simmering tensions at a club in danger of spiralling into crisis.
When Xhaka was replaced by Bukayo Saka in the second half, the midfielder trudged slowly to the touchline while petulantly gesticulating to the fans who had cheered his substitution and were angrily urging him to get off the pitch quicker.
Xhaka’s meltdown climaxed when he ripped off his shirt, appeared to shout f**k off at supporters and stormed past Emery straight down the tunnel to more derision from the stands.
Having watched his skipper behave in such a childish manner, Emery conceded Xhaka was out of line.
“He was wrong. I want to be calm but, really, he was wrong in this action,” Emery said.
“We are working with the players to play under pressure. In a difficult moment you can be hot. You have to be clever.
“We play for the supporters. We need to have a lot of respect for them when they are applauding us and when they are criticising us.”
Xhaka, appointed captain in the close-season, was already disliked by sections of the Arsenal fan base after his largely disappointing form since his 2016 move from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
The 27-year-old faced calls to be stripped of the captaincy from Arsenal fans on social media.
And Emery said he would speak to the player and the club before deciding whether Xhaka would retain the armband.
“It is not the moment to talk about that. First I need to speak to him and speak to the club,” he said.
“I think now is the time to stay calm and speak to him. We need to speak inside (the club).”
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After failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, Emery is under pressure to secure a top four place this term, but there are signs the fans are turning against him.
Fifth-placed Arsenal were booed off at full-time, while supporters chanted Mesut Ozil’s name in a pointed reference to Emery’s refusal to pick the German star.
Yet former Paris Saint Germain boss Emery insisted his team retain the support of the Arsenal crowd.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2PnLFik
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