Mikel Arteta says Granit Xhaka’s red card against Burnley was unacceptable and even worse than Nicolas Pepe’s against Leeds United.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has laid into Granit Xhaka after the Swiss midfielder was sent off for retaliating during his side’s 1-0 loss to Burnley on Sunday.
The Gunners dominated the match for an hour but had their former skipper dismissed for raising his hands to Ashley Westwood on the hour-mark.
The incident comes just weeks after Nicolas Pepe was dismissed during the 0-0 draw at Leeds for a similar offense. The Ivorian winger clashed heads with Ezgjan Alioski in that stalemate.
Arteta called that “unacceptable” and when asked if Xhaka’s was too, he said: “Same words,” as quoted by the club’s website.
“I think it is related into how much will and energy they want to put in the games that they overstep the line.”
“It is not an excuse because I want to be brave and be there to do what we have done today again – because you just give the game to the opponent.”
Arteta said he was sure Xhaka would hold his hands up and accept he was wrong for his actions.
Pepe apologized shortly after his red card at Leeds and was integrated back into the team by playing in the Europa League.
The Ivorian’s Premier League ban is now over but Xhaka is set to miss the next three games – starting with Southampton on Wednesday.
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