Former Arsenal Captain Backs Under-fire Xhaka

Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has backed midfielder Granit Xhaka amid the current storm where he was stripped of the captaincy after he used the F word against fans following boos directed towards him during a match against Crystal Palace three weeks ago.

The Swiss international has been on the receiving end after he used the F word against club supporters while coming off during a league match against the Eagles at the Emirates Stadium, a match the Gunners threw away a two-goal lead to settle for a two-all draw.

Coach Unai Emery went ahead to strip him of the captaincy and replaced him with Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the midfielder, who was a mainstay in Arsenal’s midfield since the start of the season hasn’t featured for the team ever since.

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Vieira has now leaped to the player’s defense backing him stating that the pressure of nonperforming could have pushed him to insult the club supporters.

‘I feel sorry for him because he [was] the captain and he’s going through a really difficult period and really difficult time at Arsenal. I think we have to remind ourselves that he’s achieved a lot since he’s at Arsenal and he deserves a lot of respect. When you’re a player and don’t perform the way you expect, you get frustrated about yourself. And sometimes you say things or do things you regret,” he said.

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