Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Arsenal need to ‘replace’ Granit Xhaka when his contract expires.
The former striker shared that Mikel Arteta should continue playing the combative midfielder because he has had a ‘reasonable’ season for Arsenal before letting him go.
Xhaka was back in the bad books of Arsenal supporters when he was sent off during his side’s defeat to Burnley last month.
Bent touched upon how Xhaka still ‘lets the team down’ and made it clear that he wants him gone when his contract comes to an end.
“He has had a reasonable season,” said Bent. “He still let the team down when he grabbed someone around the throat. He’s still got that in him.
“But whilst he’s still at the club. I think you play him. Once his contract ends, in the summer I think he has one-year left? You can find better than him.
“So, I would look to replace him.”
It’s been five years since Arsenal paid £35 million for Xhaka’s services [BBC Sport] and his current deal is set to run out in two years time.
Arteta clearly is a big fan of the left-footed midfielder, but his relationship with his supporters is a pretty mixed one.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if most of the Arsenal faithful would like him to leave given that he is yet to live up to that big price-tag.
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