Martin Keown has criticised Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:51pm, December 18, 2021) for his challenge on Leeds United winger Raphinha.
The Arsenal legend was far from impressed with the challenge that Xhaka made on Leeds star Raphinha in the Premier League game at Elland Road on Saturday evening.
Mikel Arteta’s side won 4-1.
The Match of the Day (MOTD) pundit pointed out that the Switzerland international midfielder did not need to make that challenge, as Arsenal were well in control of the game.
Verdict on Granit Xhaka – Raphinha incident
Keown said about Xhaka on MOTD: “He needs to eradicate this side of his personality.
“He has come into the team, he is a really important player. They are 3-0 up at this point, and he dives in like this, just needs to stop doing this.”
Arsenal midfielder needs to change
In our opinion, Keown is right about Xhaka.
The Arsenal midfielder does need to stop the kind of things that land him in trouble.
As Keown notes, there was no need whatsoever of Xhaka to make the challenge that he did on Raphinga.
It was not as if the Brazil international was marching through on goal.
It was not as if Arsenal were struggling and losing the game.
In our view, Xhaka needs to really stop doing such things.
However, the big question is whether he will be able to.
After all, Xhaka is now 29.
Can he really change now?
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