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[Video] Xhaka tells Arsenal fans to ‘f*** off’ after being booed off against Palace

By on October 27, 2019

Granit Xhaka told Arsenal fans to ‘f**k off’ and stormed down the tunnel after being booed while being subbed during the controversial 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace today.

Xhaka was recalled to the starting eleven after being rested for the win over Vitoria in the Europa League on Thursday night as the Swiss international lined-up alongside Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos in the middle of the park.

The 27-year-old set-up Sokratis to give Arsenal an early lead before David Luiz made it 2-0 minutes later as it looked like we were heading to a routine victory over Palace at the Emirates Stadium.

However, the visitors got back in the game after VAR awarded them a penalty in the 32nd minute. Luka Milivojevic made it 2-1 from the spot before Jordan Ayew headed home early in the second half to make it 2-2.

Xhaka was partially at fault for the second Palace goal as he should have done more to prevent the cross and he was soon hauled off by Unai Emery after another disappointing performance.

However, things turned nasty as the fans started to jeer after Xhaka threw the captains armband away after Emery signalled he was being replaced by Bukayo Saka in the 60th minute. The midfielder walked slowly from the pitch and the boos got louder.

Xhaka reacted badly by throwing his arms in the arm and cupping his ear before telling the crowd to ‘fu** off’ twice, pulling his shirt off and storming straight down the tunnel.

Watch the incident here:

This isn’t the first time the fans have jeered when Xhaka has been taken off but it clearly got to him today as his reaction was shocking. It’s never nice to see one of your own players getting rough treatment from the fans but the crowd only started to properly boo when he tossed the armband away and threw his tantrum.

I can’t see any way back for Xhaka now. He was an unpopular player anyway but he can’t come back from telling his own fans to ‘f**k off’ and this situation will overshadow what was another hugely disappointing game from Arsenal.

As much as it was Xhaka’s own fault today, the blame has to be at Emery’s door too as he made the ridiculous decision to name Xhaka captain despite it being clear he isn’t a fan favourite. He put too much pressure on Xhaka by giving him the armband and he shouldn’t even be a first team regular.

Plus, fans aren’t happy that Lucas Torreira is being left on the bench with Emery favouring Xhaka in the holding role despite his woeful, error prone performances as a defensive midfielder.

Emery has said in his post match interview he’ll speak with Xhaka as his reaction was ‘wrong’, but for me the manager should be gone as soon as possible with Xhaka following him out the door in January.

Today was a tipping point that neither Emery nor Xhaka can recover from.