The Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has been warned by Arsene Wenger for his dismissal in yesterday’s Premier League match-up with Burnley.
The Swiss international picked up his second red card of the season after lunging with both feet yesterday, and was deservedly sent to the stands. It’s common knowledge that two-footed tackles are strictly straight red situations, so there can be no complaint with the official’s decision.
Arsene Wenger has now moved to try and criticise his actions, albeit also insisting on his regular stance that he ‘didn’t see’ the incident properly
‘Honestly, I have to look at it again,’ said Wenger.
‘The noises I get are that it was a red card. He has to control his game and not punish the team with a lack of control in his tackling.
‘We don’t encourage our midfielders to go down in tackles. We want them to stand up and not to make these type of fouls. If it’s a bad tackle, it’s a red card.’
The Frenchman can hardly pick on the temperament of the Swiss midfielder after his actions this weekend, getting himself sent off from the dug-out, before refusing to accept his orders from the official, and apparently pushing said official also.
Wenger could be in-line for an extended touchline ban, while Xhaka will see himself miss the next three matches for his straight red.
Regardless of the manager’s situation however, he simply has to find a way to stamp out Xhaka’s recklessness, as it most certainly will cost us a large number of points, as it so nearly did yesterday.
Does Granit have a vicious streak or is it simply recklessness? Do we have the squad available to leave him on the bench on his return?
Pat J