Xhaka suggests infamous Arsenal fan clash was a misunderstanding | OneFootball

Granit Xhaka has suggested his infamous on-field dispute with the Arsenal fans was a misunderstanding, praising Mikel Arteta for getting him through it.

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Reflecting back on some of his previous managers this week, Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka discussed his infamous substitution against Crystal Palace in 2019.

With Unai Emery managing Arsenal at the time, Xhaka’s outburst towards the supporters in the Emirates Stadium initially looked like ending his spell at the club.

The player visibly swore at the fans and removed his shirt as he left the pitch, but he insists it was a misunderstanding and praises Mikel Arteta for guiding him back to the team.

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“Mikel Arteta was the guy who kept me in the football club,” Xhaka said. “After 2019, what happened between myself and the fans. I call it, even today, a misunderstanding between each other.

“[Arteta was someone] who kept me in the football club, who believed in me again, who showed me a different kind of football, who demanded a lot tactically [with] video every day.

“I just learned from 2019 what it means to be a football player and what it means to play the game.”

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It did always seem like the Arsenal fans and Xhaka both misunderstood each other that day.

People talk about the fans booing Xhaka’s substitution, but that wasn’t really what happened. The booing only started when Xhaka refused to run off the field, despite the scores being level and Arsenal needing a goal.

Xhaka’s angry reaction obviously provoked more noise in the stands, but perhaps he didn’t realise why they’d started booing to begin with.

The subsequent abuse from the supporters was also unwarranted, with Xhaka clearly frustrated with Arsenal throwing away a 2-0 lead, as any player should be.

The incident never needed to be as significant as it became, and it was fortunate that Arteta arrived to turn things around.

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Xhaka is now back in the Premier League with Sunderland, and he admitted he’s looking forward to coming up against his old team later this season, adding: “I had seven fantastic years there.

“Even today, the contact is there with the coaches, with the players, with members of the club. [I’m] just thankful for everything.”