Jamie O’Hara has claimed that it’s time Arsenal ‘got rid’ of Granit Xhaka and sold the former captain, as he told talkSPORT.
The new Premier League season is around the corner, with the Gunners kicking off proceedings against Crystal Palace on Friday night, and O’Hara thinks Xhaka is a player who ‘lets you down in big games’.
Xhaka was sent off twice last season – during Arsenal’s heavy defeat at Manchester City early on in the season and then away at Liverpool in the League Cup.
Despite those hiccups, the 29-year-old perhaps produced his best season since being at the Emirates and was a contender for the club’s Player of the Season.
However, former Premier League midfielder O’Hara thinks Arsenal have a chance to be ‘right amongst it’ ahead of the new campaign and he doesn’t think Xhaka should be part of those plans.
“Get rid,” said O’Hara. “You have got to sell him. He lets you down in big games. I think Arsenal are going to be right amongst it this season, with the players that they have signed.
“I think it’s time. Get rid of him.”
XHAKA DIVIDES OPINION
When it comes to supporters, there is no doubt that Xhaka divides opinion and he will continue to do so throughout his career.
But, where the opinion of the player is firm and consistent, is with the men that get to pick him on a weekly basis.
Whether it’s Arsene Wenger or now Mikel Arteta, every manager that is in that Emirates dugout, always seems to pick Xhaka in their starting XI.
Even if he is coming back from a long-term injury, there is no building-up period, but straight into the action, the same if he is coming back from suspension and he’s had a fair few of those.
That shows that there is a character and bravery to his game that his managers and teammates like, it’s just a case of that doesn’t resonate with others.
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