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‘The joker of our club’ – former Arsenal hero blasts Xhaka

Granit Xhaka - Arsenal
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The Switzerland international has been found at the center of several controversies during his five-year spell at the Emirates.

Former Arsenal hero Charlie Nicholas has launched a scathing attack on Granit Xhaka saying the player “is the joker of our club.”

Xhaka got sent off during Arsenal’s 5-0 defeat against Manchester City for a dangerous challenge on Joao Cancelo.

It was not the first time he was in the spotlight for the wrong reason. The midfielder, who has missed 13 games in total for the Gunners so far due to suspension, was stripped of his captaincy back in 2019 after clashing with the club’s fans.

The 28-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Roma all summer and had even looked destined to join the Serie A side at one point but the move never materialized and he eventually renewed with the London side.

“He did what he’s always done. He played the joker card. He is the joker of our club,” stated Nicholas, speaking on the Where’s Jeff podcast.

“How he can manipulate Roma into paying £17m… I would’ve personally dropped him off there… And then he signs a new contract.

“When you look at the so-called captain in Xhaka, that’s a cop-out. It was an absolute camouflage [the red card] and it just sums everything up about that football club.

“As much as I want to support Mikel Arteta, I’m finding it harder and harder to justify his choices.”

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