Granit Xhaka has been speaking to the Players’ Tribune about some of his experiences at Arsenal, with one in particular being quite a negative one.
What’s the story?
Well, the £35m man told the Players’ Tribune that he received criticism for his display from some ‘supporters’ after a game he didn’t even feature in.
Xhaka said: “I think some people don’t even watch the game before they criticise us. There was a match that we lost at home. I was injured, so I watched it from a box. I was still getting messages like ‘You were _____ today.’”
Now, that is just ridiculous, and it goes to show that some people don’t even care about performances – they will abuse footballers regardless.
Unfortunately, Xhaka has faced plenty of cruelty since his arrival from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.
The 29-year-old was booed off the pitch at the Emirates Stadium during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in 2019, causing him to gesture angrily to the fans before heading straight down the tunnel.
Having worn the armband, and also being one of the more emotional players at Arsenal, it seems the abuse has got worse for Xhaka since he reacted, which is disappointing to hear.
Granit Xhaka deserves better at Arsenal
Everyone – not just Xhaka – deserves to be treated better in football.
Of course, tribalism will always have a place in the sport, and fans will always sing chants which mock the opposition or poke fun at them – it’s part of the game.
However, abusing players on social media from the safety of their own homes is not on. It’s cyber bullying, and could have disastrous consequences.
At a time where mental health is more discussed than ever, people should know better. Having said that, social media companies also have to do more to shut these comments down, as they are often slow to react.
Hopefully, Xhaka can enjoy the rest of his Arsenal career without idiots trying to bring him down, regardless of how he’s performing.
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