Xhaka: “People started speaking again after red card”

Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder made his return to the side in their 3-1 win over Chelsea after serving his three-match ban for his red card against Burnley and put in an impressive performance.

Xhaka was pleased with his performance against Chelsea and even managed to get on the scoresheet and feels that this type of performance will help keep the critics at bay for a while longer.

The midfielder put in a superb display in the Gunners midfield that was earmarked by a great curling free-kick just before half-time to put his side 2-0 up. 

It was Xhaka’s first game back since his red card and it was a landmark day for Arsenal as they finally managed to get that elusive three points heading into the new year.

The Swiss midfielder has been the subject of much of Arsenal fan’s frustrations and a lot of hatred was directed at Xhaka with some even going as far as saying he was to never pull on an Arsenal shirt again.

Fans also cited that defender Gabriel publicly apologized for his red card, yet Xhaka did not and that alone angered supporters.

Xhaka speaking after the win:

“There was a lot of speaking after the red card. “A lot of people started speaking again … and again and again.

“I will always show my character. I was very disappointed about my red card and I knew what I did was wrong for my side. But I am more than happy. I helped the team and I am back” 

Xhaka then said: “We knew it would be a very difficult game, but we worked very well together like a team and at the moment we can only get points if we do this.

“We carried out the plan that the coach gave us. To press, to be focused 95 minutes. We scored at the right time and going 3-0 up helped a lot.”

The win saw Arsenal get their first win in their last seven league outings and now sees them up to 14th and are now six points from safety.

With such an impressive performance, Mikel Arteta’s side must now continue and build on this result. With two away games against Brighton and West Ham coming up, Granit Xhaka stated that if they let this momentum slip, then the Chelsea result will be for nothing.

“It was very important that we got three points [against Chelsea] but we have to continue like this,” he said.

“The next two games away are very difficult but if we work together like a team we have the chance to take away all six points.”