Arsenal legend Nicholas: Xhaka needs a new club

Football
29 Oct 2019 • 6:04 AM MYT
Tribal Football
Tribal Football

Tribal Football covers news from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A

Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas says captain Granit Xhaka has not future at the club.

Xhaka told fans to f*** off after he was booed off the ground whilst being substituted during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

"The sympathy is not with the reaction, the sympathy is with him being nominated captain by his fellow team-mates," Nicholas told Sky Sports.

"The manager let the players take the responsibility and it's all been evident that Arsenal have struggled to find a natural leader within the group. He is obviously popular within the dressing room.

"He's obviously a team player in some category but the actions that we saw on Sunday are just unacceptable. Xhaka may be current captain but I don't think he will be captain anymore after what he did at the weekend. The fact that he didn't instantly apologise to the fans about his behaviour tells you that he's probably upset and angry.

I would imagine it's a horrible feeling being in the position he's in right now, but that anger must be controlled. To be a footballer of any significance, especially at the higher level, if you don't have a thick skin to take some criticism, then you are not a footballer.

"You cannot live at the top end because you may get a lot of compliments, but you don't think the likes of Messi and Ronaldo ever get criticised? Everybody does at some point.

"He's representing Arsenal as a captain and it is unacceptable to think you're as big as anything at the club. His behaviour was atrocious, and I don't see him having a future at the club."