Granit Xhaka scored a screamer to cap a man-of-the-match performance against Manchester United as Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners at Emirates Stadium after weathering considerable pressure from the visitors.
Nuno Tavares gave the Gunners an early lead before Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage from the penalty spot as VAR cancelled out an Eddie Nketiah strike only to award the home side a foul in the box instead.
Cristiano Ronaldo halved the deficit almost immediately and the Red Devils should have been on level terms in the second half only for Bruno Fernandes to hit the post with a spot-kick of his own.
Xhaka eventually settled matters, hammering home from 25-yards with 20 minutes remaining.
Here’s what the Swiss midfielder had to say when he faced the BT Sport cameras…
"I like to score against United, it's not my first against them!"
"We have to be more clever, more strong mentally."
Granit Xhaka reacts after his brilliant goal helped Arsenal to win over Man Utd.
🎙 @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/aoMQk1PwAd
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 23, 2022
On the win being a big step towards finishing in the top four…
Absolutely, I’m very happy for the three points first of all. Secondly, very happy that I helped the team with the goal, it’s a long time I didn’t score, it’s always good if you score at home with the fans and with the family here today as well. Most important is the three points, it was a fifty-fifty game in the second half, in my opinion. We started well but in the second half United was pressing us and did much better than us, but we take the three points today.
On his goal being at an important moment in the match…
Yeah, I know. I like to score against United, it’s not my first goal against them since I’m here.
On Tavares’ goal giving Arsenal the perfect start…
Absolutely, he [Arteta] told us, he wants to see us take the fans with us in the first 15 minutes, to press them [United] and to try to score. And we did. Today, we had many balls that we lost too easy but to win 3-1 against this United team is very important and gives us a lot.
On Saka scoring from the penalty spot again…
He feels very confident if he takes [the penalty]. If someone wants to take it and feels confident, take it. He’s scored now twice from the penalty spot. I’m very happy.
On United missing their penalty…
It’s not the first time, we score and then concede straightaway the goal. It was against Chelsea twice after five minutes and today after three to five minutes as well. We have to be more clever to keep the first five to 10 minutes more strong mentally. They missed a penalty, it helped us a lot, of course. At 3-1 the game was finished.
A legend! A different kind of legend, but still a legend.
You can say he’s rash, reckless, idiotic, clumsy…
But he’s always, always given absolutely everything and he’s played in some pretty horrendous Arsenal sides.
He’s really grown on me this season, despite a few Xhakaisms.
I’m really starting to hope he stays. With Laca gone, our entire leadership group will have gone. Xhaka’s mentality and influence could be invaluable for a group of young players.
Not being funny but I think “the entire leadership group” leaving can only be a good thing.
I like this new Xhaka.
But the sooner Laca is gone the better..
I think the journey he’s been on, and a **BIG** if but if he stays on and maintains this standard and a few trophies come out way then… Wow what a turnaround it would be to have a Xhaka statue outside Emirates /s
He’s hardly Bergkamp tho is he lol, gotta keep my head on but when we win I love the world
His managers love him,
his team mates love him,
shame it’s taken the fans 6 years to finally appreciate him too.
Massive strike to kill the game. Fair play to the lad!
iirc that’s the third time he’s whacked one against utd from outside the box. all 3 here at the emirates.
16-17 (not sure), 18-19 (sure asf) and today!
Todays one was the best of the lot as de Gea only saw it when it was nestling in his net 😆
I love Xhaka; the guy is a warrior. Apart from the needless booting of the ball away, he put no foot wrong throughout the game.
As his thunderbolt flew in, I knew the 3 points were locked in.
Bring on West Ham! Their games tomorrow and Thursday, should give us an advantage on Sunday.
COYG! Top 4 beckons.
It doesn’t feel right if he doesn’t get the stupid yellow 😅 but what a belter.
I hope im proven wrong/the voodoo is broken but since he got here, we havent made it to the CL.
I’m actually really enjoying the Xhaka redemption arc. Say what you like about his limitations as a player, but I’m happy for the man. Always gives 100% and, although it may tip into rash decisions sometimes, I respect that about him. Had a big smile on my face when he scored and celebrated like that.
Fernandes is a whining, spiteful little turd isn’t he ?
And not very good at football. Cannot believe he took the penalty instead of Ronaldo.
I hate the scummy sh!te
That tackle was terrible. He wanted to violently vent his frustration and used Tavares as his human punching bag, completely indifferent to potentially causing a serious injury. I think I’d use harsher words than you. I’d certainly tell him I’d see him next Tuesday.
Imagine if it were Xhaka that committed that foul ?
Rio Ferdinand (BT Sports panel) was a sulky cunt too. Would love to know how the Nevilles and Roy Keane are feeling now too, the arrogant pricks.
These Mancs. They’re shit and they know they are – but they still won’t give any praise to whoever beats them.
Since Fergie packed it in, they’ve been utter shite.
Long may it continue
Wasn’t even in the same postcode as the ball when he made that “tackle”. Must’ve been taking tackling tips from McTominay. Very high on the “If that was Xhaka” scale so outrageous that neither Pawson(who was shit as per) or VAR saw that as a red
We’re getting the Switzerland Xhaka now, the player Arsene signed! Redemption arc complete, we love him. I am from Kosovo as well so I love this.
Redemption arc will be complete once we get top 4. Well done for GX though, 2 massive performances in a row. Let’s hope he keeps this form until the end of the season!
I like it when you score against Utd too.
I love whoever scores past ManUre with the exception of a spud player doing so!!!
I second the motion
I hope he loves to score against West Ham and Tottenham too
I think Gabriel Jesus read everything we said about him.
Beautiful goal.
Side note, his grammar is really weird and interesting.
He just remain with one thing that is controlling his temper and attitude other wise he is a good player if it comes to offering leadership.
Our most important player (don’t mean our best, that’s Bukayo)
Too many fans have no idea what they are looking at and prefer to repeat popular opinion rather than see actuality. They prefer to scapegoat certain players (Flamini), this is a horrid Arsenal trait. I have mentioned repeatedly they prefer to amplify the faults rather than see the positives : Neglecting – 1) Xhaka works effectively as a left sided quarterback for us to use an Americanism thanks to his range of passing, transitioning us quicker into an attack 2) He also acts as a point to pivot us between flanks switching focus of attack quickly again bc of his… Read more »
Superb finish today but that would also be neglecting all the other good things he nominally does for the team including diligently protecting the ball and backline by tracking runners (like Lukaku last game) and bringing the ball from out of midfield
Takes great strength of character to weather the scorn of cretin Arsenal fans who did the same with Flamini not to mention others. As he mentioned in his interview, there is no doubt these fans have themselves to blame for poor performances of the team as well. Whilst the team is directly responsible for their own standards, the added pressure from WengerOut to EmeryOut had a doubtless effect on the team psyche Had these fans been able to constrain their idiocy more, Wenger may have finished in top 4 at very least for last season instead of falling away. Xhaka… Read more »
Thank you Bruno and Xhaka for my two best Arsenal moments in many years, better even than our FA cup wins.