What a horrible way for Granit Xhaka to mark his new contract at Arsenal.
The Switzerland international was handed a new deal after failing to leave the Gunners for Roma earlier this summer.
But Xhaka looked as reckless as ever on Saturday by picking up a straight red card in the first half for a two-footed challenge during Arsenal’s 5-0 thumping away to Manchester City.
Being one of Arsenal’s most experienced players – not to mention a former captain – it was unacceptable by the man who cost his club £30 million back in 2016.
And Jermaine Beckford has described him as an ‘absolute embarrassment’.
He said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “If you go in with both feet off the floor, you’re going to get sent off. Time and time again, he lets his team down when he’s supposed to be leader. It’s a joke. He’s an absolute embarrassment to Arsenal right now.”
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It’s fair to say that Xhaka has form for clumsiness.
This was the 28-year-old’s fourth red card in the Premier League since joining Arsenal – and 11th overall in his career.
No fan of the Emirates Stadium club will be that surprised by the numbers because, well, he is an absolute liability at times.
Xhaka, at his core, is quite a good player, but one that can never be completely trusted and this was another shocking reminder of that.
A lot of Arsenal fans were pleased to see him stay at the club, after dazzling for his country during Euro 2020, but the same supporters might’ve wished he had joined up with Jose Mourinho in Italy now.
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