Xhaka hits out at critics

Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka has hit out at the side’s critics following their defeat at Sheffield United on Monday night. Unai Emery’s side missed the chance to go third in the Premier League table after they were beaten 1-0 by the Blades in South Yorkshire.
The loss at Bramall Lane was the fifth in the last 10 away games in the league on a night when Arsenal’s common failings were again on show.
The Gunners, not for the first time, looked vulnerable from set-pieces and uncomfortable playing out from the back.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was largely anonymous and isolated, and Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson was only forced to make one real save – from a 30-yard strike from Xhaka just before half-time.
The display in Sheffield produced familiar criticism of Arsenal’s mentality, with former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra, a studio guest during Sky Sports’ live coverage of the game, describing the Gunners as “babies”.
Xhaka has since lashed out at the criticism and took particular exception to Evra’s assessment of Arsenal’s mentality away from the comforts of the Emirates.
He said: “We have to stop about mental bulls*** like this. For me, it is the same whether you play home or away – you have to win and show big character and a good game, and not to always find the same excuse.”
Addressing Evra’s comments specifically, the Swiss international added: “A lot of people, they speak too much. It is not the first time he has spoken something about us. “I have a lot of respect for him as he was a great player, but you have to be careful what you say. But it is not only him – a lot of people peak a lot of bulls*** about us. It’s always the same.”
Arsenal can enjoy the comforts of the Emirates in their next two games. They host Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on Thursday before Crystal Palace make the trip to the home of the Gunners on Sunday.
Xhaka’s side will next be tested on the road when they face Premier League frontrunners Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on October 30.