Gary Neville says Granit Xhaka will ‘always let you down at some point in the season’ and should prepare for that eventuality.
The Switzerland international midfielder has been a divisive figure among the Gunners fanbase, partly due to his poor disciplinary record.
However, Xhaka has consistently been picked as a starter by every manager he’s played under at the Emirates Stadium – , and now Mikel Arteta.
During Arsenal’s 2-0 victory away at Selhurst Park in their opening fixture of the Premier League season on Friday night, Xhaka picked up another card as he was shown a yellow card for simulation.
Manchester United legend Neville has hinted Arteta may need to move on from Xhaka eventually as he thinks the midfielder will inevitably let his team down.
‘Even Xhaka tonight, he got booked. I always think he is going to go and let you down,’ Neville told Sky Sports.
‘He is always going to let you down at some point in the season, so you think, you should plan for that now. You know it’s coming.’
Bar the booking, Xhaka played well as the Gunners secured a vital victory to start off the season in the best possible way.
On the win, Arteta said: ‘Yes really pleased, to be winning. Three points, a clean sheet, against a really difficult opponent and a really tough place.
‘They got the people going, and as we expected we were going to have tough periods in the match.
‘We showed great resilience to get through them, and (it is) really positive the way we started.
‘We started really sharp, really mobile, really determined to play the way we wanted to play. Overall, positive.’
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