Friday, February 7, 2025

Xhaka releases statement: Let’s get back to a place of mutual respect

Granit Xhaka has tonight released a statement about what happened following his substitution on Sunday during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

It’s been four full days since, and the Arsenal captain has taken his time before making public his version of events.

This is what he has had to say:

After taking some time to reflect on what happened on Sunday afternoon, I would like to give you an explanation rather than just a quick response.

The scenes that took place around my substitution have moved me deeply. I love this club and always give 100% on and off the pitch.

My feeling of not being understood by fans, and repeated abusive comments at matches and in social media over the last weeks and months have hurt me deeply.

People have said things like “We will break your legs”, “Kill your wife” and “Wish that your daughter gets cancer”.

That has stirred me up and I reached boiling point when I felt the rejection in the stadium on Sunday.

In this situation, I let myself be carried away and reacted in a way that disrespected the group of fans that support our club, our team and myself with positive energy. That has not been my intention and I’m sorry if that’s what people thought.

My wish is that we get back to a place of mutual respect, remembering why we fell in love with this game in the first place.

Let’s move forward positively together.

Granit

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rugrat

4 days worth of work went into that PR spin

Gunner 55

There must be something terrifyingly wrong with anyone who can’t empathise and accept that.

Almond

Sometimes we fans forget that football is just a sport for our entertainment 1st before whatever. Yes we get emotional because we love our club and wish it to do very well but we must draw a line in certain places, cursing and threatening a man and his family is beyond my comprehension. Sundays reaction was an outburst from a lot that has been happening without many knowing because social media and blogs has opened up a floor of easy communication access to a lot of people, it’s now outrageously misused. For me apologies accepted let’s move on and and… Read more »

Chamakhyungpark

Yes please for the love of god can Emery please go. I don’t think there has ever been such a unanimous dislike for a manager by any clubs fanbase.

Most of us gave him the benefit of doubt, but let’s face it, he is a complete and utter wally.

I don’t dislike Xhaka and I think he was right to be pissed off. The fan’s real frustration is with the muppet in charge. We have the makings of a top-four team this year, but we won’t do it with him. EMERYOUT!!

D_j_nolan

Empathise defintely but think it is a bit strong to say something is wrong if you can’t accept. Why did it take four days to write, why remove Arsenal from your social media, if this had been released on Monday or Tuesday we would all have been able to move on without question but the delay opens the message up to a cynical eye when it did not need to

Tim

Fans have been screaming they don’t want him as a captain for weeks. He might have felt that leaving the captain picture after the substitution chaos would make thing worse. And also maybe suggest that he had pedigree as a captain by switching to an Switzerland picture. Just a thought…

D_j_nolan

Good thought and would agree with you if done at same time as the statement

Tim

Yeah, but I also think he had a (really) hard couple of days. So I will cut him some slack regarding timing etc.

D_j_nolan

Sounds like he had a hard couple of weeks which for the mindless trolls is inexcusable and there should be punishment of that there is no question

Mayor McCheese

Erm…four days to think about things rather than react off the cuff to what was probably the most humiliating moment of his career? And you’re complaining?

Good grief. Really no pleasing some people.

It’s a good statement, and it ends positively. Good on him.

Bob's Mexican Cousin

Throwing stones with a mask is very easy.

Naked Cygan

Good point about the social media pic change. He just put fuel on the fire by doing that. This whole situation has been handled terribly. I am not a a Xhaka fan, never have or ever will be. I think he is shit footballer who has somehow got into the premier league, and I don’t know why he was chosen to be our capitan. The guy is average at best and he has pissed off a lot of people, and lime you said the social media pic change was a fk up. All that said, there is no place for… Read more »

Naked Cygan

Law*

Petit's Handbag

How long have you not been a Xhaka fan Naked Cygan?

Naked Cygan

After 5 games under Wenger

Petit's Handbag

You said never been a Xhaka fan. Did you not want him to start like everyone else did when he first came?

Reality check

D_j_nolan

When you grow older and wiser, you’ll realise that apologies don’t work when there is still fresh anger. Let things cool off so you are able to think without being motivted by anger.
I am personally happy with the apology and appriciate how most fans have recieved it.

D_j_nolan

You obviously don’t know my wife then ?

D_j_nolan

Also slightly condescending seeing as you have no idea of my age. Also you are probably not aware that although English I live in Switzerland so have spent the week in a very different media environment and with Swiss people debating the behavior from the position of the National captain as well. My son was born here and I take him to see his first ever game next month when Switzerland play Georgia and we will both be cheering on Xhaka. My comments are not an attention seeking mindless reaction of some immature youth.

Reality check

D_j_nolan
“You obviously don’t know my wife then”

Loll .. I see you speak from your own personal experience, fair enough, can’t question that..

I actually thought that comment was written by someone young and inexperienced so apologies if it sounded condescending.

D_j_nolan

No problems Reality thanks for the apology ?

ATG

It’s not an apology it’s a justification and as for the social media abuse. I don’t buy it sorry, he as the captain of the team has responsibilities and the way he reacted was wrong. No one in the stadium abused his family.

The Far Post

It took four days to write because he was probably resisting to say the easier, blah, blah PR version. It takes time to fight for a more genuine and fairer version.

In some ways I respect Xhaka more because of this. This doesn’t mean I want him captain or want to have him on the pitch every week. (Mainly because he has problems controlling his emotions) This shows, however, that he can and does fight for what he believes in. If he believes in Arsenal, you can be sure he’ll do that.

HoldenontoArsenal

Class mature response from a strong man unwilling to surrender his integrity but admitting a mistake.

OnlyBeingHonest

HoldenontoArsenal

Agree completely

Voldemort

Ashamed to be an arsenal fan when things like this happen.
The bloke is young with a young family. I dont do twitter of facebook etc so its hard for me to comprehend people would threaten his family. How do people like that live with them selves.
Falling out of love with football for so many reasons i will just add this to the growing list of reasons why.

Gooooooonnnnaaaaaaaa

He didn’t apologize, he did the classic Arseblog apology of: “If you got offended, then I apologize.” Which shows he’s not actually sorry, and thinks he’s the victim. Sure, move on or not, I want him and this clown manager out. Down vote me all you want. I’m a regular season ticket holder that’s been going to arsenal games before a lot of you heard about this club. I didn’t boo him btw, because that’s not what I’m about, I support my players 100% while they’re on the pitch and was devastated with how things turned out on Sunday. BUT,… Read more »

Mpls

It’s awful easy for someone critical of a Xhaka to isolate the incident on the pitch at that moment and use it as a cudgel to beat him with. But he experiences his life as a continuum of time. And like all of us cannot 100% isolate all of the cumulative abuse he and his family have been subjected to. Yeah, he is a fucking victim. Of criminal level threats and abuse. I’d snap too. And I’d wager 90% or more of the rest of us on here would. And frankly, I wouldn’t feel bad about it. No fucking way… Read more »

Sachin

Re: sarcastic cheers… imagine the gall of the boors… as if there’s a nuanced difference. Maybe there is. Between a prick and an asshole.

Gooooooonnnnaaaaaaaa

He’s a professional footballer!!!! You think any of the people that wished all those horrible things to him were in the stadium? There are scum on Twitter, and they troll most famous people! This is not an arsenal problem or a Xhaka problem. It just shows what a coward he is for using that as his excuse. He’s a small man with a big ego, not captain material and not an arsenal player.

Nzini

So if most famous people are trolled then Xhaka must understand?Sounds like the mentality of a coward to me.

ATG

He should stay away from social media if that is the case. Being famous brings minority of idiots towards you.

Gooooooonnnnaaaaaaaa

You think actors, musicians, and other athletes don’t get subjected to that kind of abuse? That’s a problem with the social media platforms that allow these trolls to come on and say what they want without any accountability. That has NOTHING to do with what happened on Sunday. A couple of fans sarcastically cheered when his number came up (a dig at the stupid manager who picks him over anyone and how he’s handled the captaincy). Then when he threw the captains armband, more people started shouting. He then walked slowly and people were yelling to get off! That’s when… Read more »

Giddygun

Clear enough Gooooonnnnaaa. Clear enough. Your perspective is also sound enough.

Terry henry

Agree with this rant

mpls

Ah, well I guess because others are experiencing it that makes it all Hunky Dory, eh?

Not acceptable for me. Not in the slightest.

Granit(e) hard!

My take on this exactly, Mpls

OnlyBeingHonest

Gooooooonnnnaaaaaaaa cop on,

I dont like your comment, So
I hope your wife dies and your first born baby gets cancer….

Now, have you “invoked” that response from me? or am I over the top?

use your head

Gooooonnnnaaaaaa

You just don’t get it do you? Ok, let me further explain: 1) Those 3 extremely abusive comments highlighted above are disgusting. Should never be said, no one should receive that kind of comment, absolutely unacceptable. I hope I made myself clear on that. 2) Every club has a small tiny minority of fans that are possibly racist, abusive (verbally or physically) and in general just uneducated fools filled with hatred, jealousy and negativity inside. These idiots do not reflect the overall fan base. On Sunday, no one said anything along those lines, people negatively reacted to him throwing the… Read more »

OnlyBeingHonest

“That has NOTHING to do with what happened on Sunday” But only a fool would think they are not related? If that’s the abuse him and his family are receiving at home, Then he’s cheered when his number goes up as he’s being substituted, then the fans boo him for not walking fast enough, all of that clearly will take a toll on him? You think his response wasn’t an accumulation of all of that? sick of been the new player the fans have turned on? i mean there’s always at least one? Eboue? AMN at RB? Ramsey got it?… Read more »

mpls

Yeah, only good fucking luck with Twitter, Facebook, or the FA doing fuck all about any of it. Rolling over and taking it doesn’t work. Xhaka’s response probably doesn’t either. But I respect the fact that he’s making a point of the abuse these people suffer. I don’t see it as an excuse, I see it as an explanation of his mental state, and that must be respected. Not saying anything about the rampant abuse just enables it. Calling it something flip like ‘trolling’ enables and encourages it. Trolls are proud of the moniker. They must be more accurately pegged… Read more »

ATG

Couldn’t agree more.

Bob builder

I can’t. I think it’s lame. I think he’s lame
Your a professional athlete you can’t take the trolls on social media, then don’t have social media. Let your play on the field do all the talking

Sachin

Threat to kill someone is not trolling. It’s a threat.

Which ones pink.

And there lies the much bigger problem Bob, his his play on the field has done the talking for the last 4 years and it says he is not good enough for The Arsenal

goonshow

Look – I respect the guy’s passion, but I do feel this statement smacks a little of being ‘crafted’. And I feel Granit is simply not a fit in this current team. Whether he is ‘good’ enough ito requisite skills is a debate that will rage on. My perspective is a simple one: it stretches all the way back to Armstrong and Brady, Davis and Mickey T and Rocky, through Parlour, Petit and Patrick, Gilberto, Tomas and Abu ( bless his talented but brittle frame). And it stretches fondly forward into the magical and deserved resurrected career of Santi.. The… Read more »

HoldenontoArsenal

I object that the captain who reacted too emotionally and quickly took the time to craft a thoughtful response….said and thought too many Arsenal fans.

rNeo

Of course it is crafted. Monkeys did not write it! On a serious note, if it wasnt well thought out and well written, we would jump on him and call him “insincere” or “lazy” or “uncaring” or something else… What else would you want him to do? How would you have responded?

HelderHughes

I do have some sympathy. But he forgets the fact that those internet trolls aren’t anywhere near the stadium in all likelihood. They are just bored pricks looking for a reaction. The people in the stadium have stood by him over the last few years, even if his performances haven’t merited much. The internet is toxic and horrible and I don’t know what it’s like to deal with that. But at the same time, come on man, it’s just afore mentioned lonely twats, most likely young teenagers. You’ve got to be stronger than that. And if it’s really affecting you… Read more »

rNeo

I see what you are saying but I would disagree… for someone in his position, its just “fans”. I am a teacher and my students are my students. I do not differentiate between my online students vs my face-to-face students and undergrads vs grads.

HelderHughes

Yeah but that’s because you have a personal relationship with them. And they are accountable for their actions unlike some anonymous twitter account.

Up until this season the general mood in the stadium has been very forgiving. And obviously this is bigger than Xhaka. It’s Emery and the performances in general we are frustrated with.

But if he wants the captaincy, he has to be somewhat accountable when it goes badly. Especially when he’s making individual errors that cost us points. It’s all part and parcel of leadership and I’m afraid he’s failed at the first hurdle.

loose_cannon

@HelderHughes that was exactly my reaction. I feel sorry for him but internet trolling is part and parcel of being a famous people on social media. What was said about his family was terrible and shows how low people can go, but I don’t think it’s anything worse than what most footballers have to deal with from time to time. Are we saying Sterling doesn’t get death threats even when he plays well? I’m sure he does, but he doesn’t let it get to him, even when it’s national newspapers doing it. As I said I feel sorry for Xhaka… Read more »

Pépé Le Pew

No but family and friends are likely to be. It would always get back to you unless you live in total seclusion. And that kind of comment get straight to your head

Reality check

“The people in the stadium have stood by him over the last few years, even if his performances haven’t merited much” I don’t agree with that mate. Not booing doesn’t equal support. Other than that how did fans support Xhaka? fans in the stadium are not the best when it comes to supporting and encouraging the team when they are down, We instead boo them. There is reason the place is called Library. We also boo almost all our former players because we’re salty, insecure children. Ox got booed but still showed class when he scored which was nice to… Read more »

loose_cannon

Ox actually clapped our fans when he went over to take a corner even while they kept booing him. That’s class and composure right there.

HelderHughes

It’s the players job to get the fans going. Sadly Xhaka’s football doesn’t often do that. I think how often we sang the Torreira song in his first few months at the club. Why? Because he plays with his heart and leaves it all on the pitch.

Sachin

The trolls are the stadium! The internet didn’t boo him as he was walking off. Guys, we need to collectively own up. We don’t like Xhaka and Emery picks him regardless, so we feel we have the god given right to be as horrible as possible to him and his family.

#WorstFansInTheWorld

Reality check

Not that I respect RVPs decision to leave, but thats exactly what happend when he released a statement with a personal touch. When you are angry or hate someone, it’s easy to put a negitive spin on everything..

Petit's Handbag

Ray Parlour probably would have had it this bad if social media was around in the 90s. Thankfully it wasn’t

Sachin

I’m gonna say it how it looks to me: The difference is Ray was in a winning team and he was English. So his fucking up was naughty. Xhaka and Mustafi are less than human to the current lot of fans.

IamaGoober

I might be alone here, but I honestly was not bothered whether Xhaka apologised or not. I was at the game on Sunday, and I didnt think he ever owed us anything, all things considered. Regardless as to what you think about him as a player. He does always try his best. Yes, his best hasn’t always been good enough, but I dont believe for one second that he deserved what he got from pretty much everyone in the stadium that afternoon. Genuinely I have seen Adebayor turn up in a Spurs shirt, score a penalty. and get less abuse… Read more »

NairoGunner89

It is social media. Absolutely no way to tell if all the abuse he has received has been from Arsenal fans. I hate this situation because he got abused, but also because how we(the fans), the club and those close to the club have handled it make it seem as if Arsenal fans are the worst in the world at this. This is not unique to our club and this club has millions of well meaning, level headed fans so I find it odd to focus on the few who insult the man online. (If they are even Arsenal fans).… Read more »

Sachin

The few idiots include you too. There is no distinction here.

Instead of being responsible and wanting more out of our own behavior (like goober above) you want to say it will happen again, and are okay with it.

So how come you aren’t a idiot?

IamaGoober

@NairoGunner89 I’m sorry I don’t really agree with what you’re saying. I dont care whether this issue is one that doesnt just effect our Football Club. It doesn’t matter to me that they have the same issues at Chelsea, or United, or Liverpool (as examples). I dont care how their fans treat their players. At Arsenal we should not be treating our players like the way we have been. One of the core values of Arsenal is that we always uphold our class. Currently the behavior of a large portion of our fan base couldn’t be further from that, as… Read more »

Reality check

IamaGoober

Classy comment bro, appriciate it. His team mates love and respect him because he’s the first one to defend them one things get edgy and he’s been doing that even before he was captain. His effort and commitment cannot be questioned.

Which ones pink.

Neither could Robbie savage commitment being questioned but he was never good enough for a team that wanted to challenge and Beverly a top team. Ian Wright called it, “a handful of good games in 4 years” says it along for me. I have moved on from Sunday and am now back to where I was before. Is he good enough to play for us let alone be captain. NO

ATG

Same goes for his reaction buddy

”Remember who you are, what you are, and who you represent”

Snagger

Because the word sorry appears in the statement it doesn’t make it an apology. Lack of professionalism is what he should be sorry for and nothing else.He shouldn’t have to apologise for being bang average not up to the pace or being indisciplinedHe should be open to criticism but obviously there are people who take it way too far and hopefully judgement day will come for them.

Reality check

Snagger

Professionalism doesn’t mean bending over for anything the customer throws at you. They pay to watch the game, not to abuse and insult players when they feel like it, I am sure the ticket mentions no such allowance. If you are getting no pleasure from the game, find something else in life, shouting, abusing and getting all emotional wouldn’t change much.
And if you choose to look at others, look for good examples and not the bad ones, bad ones only validate your own bad behaviour

Snagger

So when the team puts in another turgid performance should we not let our feelings be known? Is it the cinema we are going to and should sit quietly with our popcorn and maltesers? This is the 21st century gladatoriarl arena. Those sick lowlifes that troll and write that disgusting bile can go crawl under a rock. We all groan when a pass goes astray we all shout ooh for a near miss and when our captain trudges off and cups his ear then what?

Snagger

Are you going to the cinema or a football? When the films were silent people used to cheer the hero and boo the villain. Should we just sit there eating popcorn and maltesers? The whole point is to get emotionally involved. A near miss is an oooh, a crunching tackle is an argh, a goal or win unbridled hysteria. So what is your captain trudging off with his hand cupped over his ear telling fans to f off? Polite applause and shouts of we understand your inner emotions, If you are happy with his mediocrity let him know. I for… Read more »

mpls

Yeah, typically the villains are not the players on our team. Let’s try keeping it that way for a change, eh?

Petit's Handbag

Rugrat, shut up and review your life if that’s your response

Not John

I don’t know why the original PR spin comment has been so overwhelmingly voted down. This is spin. yes it was ugly but ‘social media comments made me do it’ is fucking weak beyond. You’re the fucking captain of the fucking greatest football club on earth. Get off social media if you’re not strong enough to ignore the toxic sludge that lives there. Weak weak weak.

CJay

if what you got from his statement was ‘social media comments made me do it’, then there’s no hope for you. there is much more to that, he clearly explained his feeling of not being understood and being rejected by the fans, which I would imaging hurts more than online abuse. he explained how the accumulation of rejection and abuse reached a boiling point on Sunday. the spin is you focusing on one little sound bite to try and push your narrative, which is extremely weak sauce on your part. it appears to me that he took some time before… Read more »

Not John

CJay I’m sorry, while I appreciate the need to draw a line under this whole situation, I still feel this is a weak response and symptomatic of the malaise at the club. He fucked up. Yes there were reasons for it. Yes he is human. But this statement still doesn’t take ownership of his actions. To me it seems he’s excusing his actions. Whether it was on-line trolls or the rejection in the stadium, his reaction was wrong and he should own it. I also object that he is clouding the issue. “Abusive comments in the stadium”. I’m a regular… Read more »

Which ones pink.

I have never heard Xhaka own anything. What the xxxx is he talking about not being understood. Go to therapy if you want to be understood. Let’s all move on and get back to bigger picture. He is not good enough unfortunately to play for the Arsenal. He could do well back in Germany maybe

CJay

I see your point, and you have every right to feel the way you do. Personally, I think he did own up to his mistake- “In this situation, I let myself be carried away and reacted in a way that disrespected the group of fans that support our club, our team and myself with positive energy. That has not been my intention and I’m sorry if that’s what people thought.” I do, however, understand if you think it’s not worded strongly enough; I understand if you think he needed to say something to the effect of “I fucked up, my… Read more »

Not John

Fair play CJay, I’ll drink to that.

There’s enough people here and on other platforms who think this is enough of an apology to move on.

I hope for Xhaka and arsenal’s sake they’re right.

One thing we can all agree on, the in fighting is ugly and unbecoming of our great club.

legrande

Give me a signature belter into the top corner (winning goal) against Leicester City in the 80th minute just after you come on and all your sins are forgiven. Its all about the football.
Apology accepted.

Robm

Looking at the comments he talks about receiving, there’s something very wrong with any football fan Who makes comments like that to/about the players or staff of any club, let alone to the captain of their own club.

If your first thought is to blather about PR spin, there something wrong with you too.

rohit

It makes me sad to know that there’s someone out there who could wish someone, let alone a toddler, cancer. That too for a sport, a team sport that brings together players from different parts of the world to create beauty. How ironic!
Has the world always been like that or am I waking up to the reality just now?

Gooner Sam

It’s a good statement and there is no excuse for the vile things some scum have said to him but unfortunately that is what social media gives these days, s voice to these cowards. Having said that if this is the background he should have addressed this before then.

Also I am, like blogs, in the belief that this stems from fans being very unhappy with Emery. He offers no improvement and he built the pressure up on Xhaka with the captain farce.

Man

I hope he wrote that himself. Some of it sounds very GCSE. Which is cool if he wrote it. Scary if it was PRd. Ultimately difficult to harbour any ill will towards him, as I don’t recall him giving less than his best. Thrown to the wolves.

LjungbergsPinkMohawk

The heckling is extreme, and I can certainly empathize with that context. Before that outburst though he’s demonstrated for several years now that he’s just not good enough to be in this team. He needs a fresh start elsewhere.

Kebab

I much prefer a considered reply than a rushed one.

OnlyBeingHonest

Rugrat is the new breed of Arsenal fan, I cant say how little I care for them.

Runólfur Árni

I’ll take it

The Mad Parson

Indeed. Draw a line under it and move on.

Dave M

I think it’s a well made comment. Brings to light some of the problems of social media (still can’t see why any public persona would want to be a part of that). I think it would be a good idea for the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust to release a comment too, apologising on behalf of the fans and at least ask for better from people. Now the question is should Xhaka remain as club captain? IMO, it’s a firm no (and that is aside from the fact I think it was a bad choice in the first place). I think this… Read more »

HelderHughes

Dude, where’s my comment?

Gio

I like the way he’s apologised to fans who don’t abuse him, but clearly doesn’t want to apologise to the abusers. Absolutely fair enough!

H2k

Spot on.

David C

let’s move on….but also maybe Xhaka not in every starting 11 🙂

Tim

Also shows he’s no pushover. And much less of a “coward” than people on here seem to think he is…

The Mad Parson

Completely agree.

And that’s why I don’t think this statement is “crafted” or “PR” or whatever. What makes it sincere is that he doesn’t offer a blanket apology; indeed, he points out the specific (and vile) things that led to the boilover.

There’s no way for us to know, but it sounds authentic to me, and I’m happy to accept it and move on with the hopes that a vast majority of us will support the Arsenal in a positive way.

Admitting, regrettably, that there are always a few to worsen it for everyone.

Saps

Love Mr Granit more.
No cowering.
Tells it like it is, no pandering.
Good on you Xhaka, score a trademark belter next game.

Papa Large, big shot in North London

100%. The club needs to be apologising for having a section of absolutely shit fans.

Good luck unconvincing Aubameyang, Lacazette, and whoever’s else is lucky yet to have been booed to stay on at this shit show. Then wait for the “where’s the loyalty” crap. It’s a two way street.

Snagger

FFS He has apologied to no one. Admits he got carried away but if you thought that his reaction was disrespectful you were wrong and he is sorry for that.

AndrewPearson

Garbage statement from a trash captain ?

Maul Person

Shows what kind of shit fan you are…

weebgooner

Can’t believe there is 36 people agreed this comment. Maybe he’s not as good as we would have hoped but there’s no way a person deserved to be called as trash

Ex-Priest Tobin

We need an unqualified apology, this is not good enough. Get out.

Papa Large, big shot in North London

From the club for having a bunch of cretinous fuckwit supporters that abuse a man’s family? True. From the increasingly large number of toxic, entitled cunts who seem to think it appropriate to abuse the shit out of someone for the sin of not being the world’s best footballer? True.

I’m with Xhaka, they can all fuck off.

Awesomesauce25

You must be really miserable if you NEED his apology. Maybe a bit entitled as well. I hope things in your life improve enough that not getting his apology doesn’t affect you so personally.

Perspective

HoldenontoArsenal

We need unqualified fan support, ours is not good enough, get out

Which ones pink.

The hypocrisy is unbelievable. You couldn’t find a comment on here supporting Xhaka after he slid in and gave away another penalty recently. Now we are all meant to cheer him. I pay £1400 a year for my seat and I’ll be fucked if I’m gonna support rank average players and a an even worse manager. Both need to leave The Arsenal.

arsepedant

What a horrible thing to say. Pretty easy to see why you’re no longer a priest.

Der32

He admitted to disrespecting the club and the players. But did not even offer an apology to them. It’s not about what people thought you did, it’s what you did in front of millions watching. Own up to your mistake at least. Or say that the online abuse had nothing to do with the support in the stadium and apologize for conflating the two. I’m tired of this crap. Emery fuck off for instilling and not condemning a cowardice victim mentality.

Gana

Waiting for idiots to call it a fake apology……..

Phil

I’m definitely an idiot, and even I think its a real apology.

Snagger

Fake apology

3223 WM

They already are?

arsepedant

You certainly didn’t have to wait long. Sadly.

Dave

Massive respect to him and agree entirely. I’m ashamed at what he’s had to endure as captain of Arsenal.

Please can we just move on and support this team and the players, who give 100%.

Jack

I think he should be rested on Saturday just so the dust can settle, and I’m not just saying that because I want Torreira to start…

Steve

He should be rested until January when he is sold off

AmericanGooner

Not the right time, Steve. This is about human interaction and morality, not footballing. There is, and should be a difference there.

The Mad Parson

AG, if I could upvote this more than once, I’d sit here and click on the green thumbs up until Saturday kickoff.

Highbury

I could not agree with you more AG

Der32

Arsenal should release a statement saying online abuse to their players is unacceptable. But also that Xhaka’s actions were not becoming of club captain and that he was simply wrong.

Adrian

Let’s move on now.

D_j_nolan

Thank you for your very long awaited apology. Happy to have him back as a player but not anywhere near the captains armband

Pat Rice and Beans

Best comment on this subject.

YOLO Toure

I somewhat disagree — maybe this is just me trying to take the positives out of the situation, but I think football has changed and the idea of captains like how captains used to be is a very different thing. Footballers can, and should, have a right to be treated more as humans in this day and age, and I think that by Granit showing this level of raw emotion as a man displays more 21st century human leadership than captains of old. I think it’s really important for players to see their captain as someone they can connect with… Read more »

Gooner for life

Fair enough, but Xhaka should not be played, not because of this incident, but his form and contribution to the flow of the game.

Gareth knight

Surely the lesson he should learn here is to stay off social media ?
Don’t get me wrong, those comments aimed at granit are vile but come on, get your head off Twitter and concentrate on your football.
Ainsley Maitland Niles is another one…. he actually appologises to most people that slates him after every game online. I just don’t get it.

Elliot Ness

Good point! But regardless of his performances, he should also be able to proudly post a picture of his beloved family without having to see comments wishing cancer to his daughter and shit like that. And he sees them because they are upvoted and rise to the top. I remember being shocked reading a few last week. And it’s the first thing that came to my mind when the incident happened on Sunday.

YpsiGooner

Yeah, that kind of stuff is super crass

Ray Staunton

Welcome to social media you stupid furry animal,sorry I meant c**t,sorry I didn’t mean to for you to get offended!

atom

He shouldn’t take the abuse on social media – especially as it relates to his family. People that say those types of things are flat out just scum. However it’s worth pointing out that the reason players use social media is it allows them to build a brand which then allows them to garner higher wages when it comes time to contract negotiations. Player image rights are negotiated all the time in foreign leagues & even domestically Pogba & Ozil are examples of 2 players who have leveraged their social media brands to garner wages much higher than their on… Read more »

Mekus

In other words, when they can’t be bothered about working harder to improve on their infield qualities to earn more wages, they ran to social media ad a shortcut? I will never support anyone who attacks a family member of any star for whatever lame excuses/reasons, but if a sporting fellow wants to use followers as an advantage to squeeze out more money from his/her employer, then he/she should equally be prepared to deal with all the harsh nonsense that comes with “being on the spotlight on social media”. Unfortunately, there’s no way to insulate ones’ family members from those… Read more »

YpsiGooner

I think a lot of Ainsley’s apologies are sarcastic in nature

Ray Staunton

I don’t get sarcasm

Snagger

Father Jack “I’m soooo sorrrrry” That’s sarcasm.

Mpls

Their generation has grown up integrated with social media in ways previous generations cannot understand. Asking them to stay off social media is fairly akin to asking them to forego the telephone and television. Yeah, you can feasibly make do without, but your entire social sphere is intertwined with it. Not to mention, their ‘brand’ requires it, and like it or not, managing that is integral to their career and life’s work. Sure, they could PR it, but then they’d be mocked for ‘PR spin’ as we’ve seen commented here several times today. We all know very well that they’re… Read more »

Mekus

“We all know very well that they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t”. Not necessarily.. It’s called… A CHOICE. Consequences, perhaps. But I won’t use such a strong word as “damned” to describe that choice. There are stars who are off social media and they really fine with that.

Amusa

Absolutely fair. Saw a “fan” calling for his newborn daughter to be raped. Fuck our vile fanbase.

chopper4001

Where? In the stadium? Or on social media?

lordgunner

the social media is full of them,hiding behind their virtual shield

chopper4001

Of course, it’s social media. The land of the vile. Why any famous sports people are on it is anyone’s guess…

But this is all known. Every facet of life on social media has people posting vile comments. To brand our entire fanbase as vile because of some miscreant from the other side of the world… not cool. I’ve been to the Emirates several times and not once heard anything as cruel. Jeers sure, but never anything like that.

If you DID hear it in the stadium you should have called the little prick out.

chopper4001

Some people need to get a grip.

Mpls

Don’t be so quick to presume it’s from the other side of the world..

Mekus

At the same time, you equally shouldn’t assume that it’s not.

Mekus

Thanks. I agree with you. Some equally vile minds are making sweeping statements here. You can’t paint every Arsenal fans with the same brush (especially those boots on ground inside the Emirates and on away matches. Keep what happened on social media where it happened (it was a choice to be there), and things that happen in the stadiums during matches can be called out here (because he has no choice but to respect his contract). Thanks

chopper4001

Exactly. You’ll note that Amusa hasn’t come back to justify his comments on here.

Pot kettle black.

Luka6234

The guy who wrote that should go to prison if you ask me, but this is the state of social media in all spheres of life. It doesn’t change the fact that Xhaka is a terrible player, and that people have every right to be frustrated and loud about it. With Emery too

arsepedant

Who cares where? It’s disgusting anywhere.

Bleugh

It’s not ‘our vile fanbase’. Labelling 100s of millions of arsenal fans as vile is a dangerous thing to do. Football is a sport, which because of the money, is run by stupid cunts, played by stupid cunts, officiated by stupid cunts, marketed at stupid cunts. Corruption and racism is rife and yet is brushed under the carpet. Many Arsenal fans are fantastic people, some are average and some are worthless pieces of shit, literally like any other fanbase.

Ray Staunton

I was hoping for another c**t

Mekus

Exactly my point. Why tag the whole Arsenal fans ad “vile”? Unless you has a vile mind. Arsenal fans are very passionate about their club and calls out any flaws seen in any player which seems to be detrimental to the set up of the rest of the team. Call it for what it actually is.. “Overly Passionate” and the dirty word “vile”. You can use that to describe those who follow him on social media (if you so choose to). I’m sure that they will respond in kind over there.

Vonnie

The police should be involved, it’s hate crime. The club needs to make a strong statement about this sort of thing. Decent fans need to support.

Prince Gunneralaysia

And the Social Media account not even using real name or real profile pictures. What’s the point of getting affected by that

Mekus

Real names or not, it’s wrong to attack family members who has nothing to with whatever issue one has with the individual. Such people should be called out and condemned “ON THAT VERY PLATFORMS” and not have issues from there spilling out venomously on serious grounds (like match days). Describe them with your choice of words.. Viles, sadists, etc. But over there!

ArsenesLongSufferingZipper