Alan Shearer has criticised Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:43pm, August 28, 2021) for getting sent off against Manchester City.
What’s the story?
Arsenal suffered a 5-0 defeat at the hands of City away from home at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League yesterday.
The Citizens were the superior side and would have probably won the game anyway, but it did become easier for the Premier League champions after 35 minutes.
That’s when Arsenal midfielder Xhaka was shown a straight red card for a reckless two-footed lunge on City’s Joao Cancelo.
What Alan Shearer thinks
Newcastle United legend and MOTD pundit believes that Xhaka was deservedly sent off, and has said that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would be furious with the 28-year-old Switzerland international midfielder.
Shearer said on Match of the Day on BBC One (10:43pm, August 28, 2021), as transcribed by The Daily Mail: “That’s 11 red cards in his career, you can’t excuse this. All he’s said to his teammates is ‘sorry you’re on your own I don’t feel this today’. Who he’s trying to impress? I don’t know.
“You cannot tackle and go in like that, we all know the rules. He’s putting his opponent in danger.
“It’s the correct decision and he’s said to his teammates ‘sorry you’re on your own thanks very much I don’t fancy it today’.
“He (Arteta) will be raging at that tackle. You’re up against it anyway, you can’t afford to do that kind of thing.”
Disappointing
Xhaka is a senior player who should know better than to make the kind of challenge that he did against City.
Now, City were already 2-0 up at that stage, but going down to 10 men did adversely affect Arsenal, who ended with a 5-0 defeat.
The 28-year-old is a very experienced player who is a important player in the team, and Arsenal manager Arteta will be disappointed with him.
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