Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka blasts Patrice Evra for spouting ‘bulls***’ after branding club ‘babies’
GRANIT XHAKA has blasted Patrice Evra for spouting “bulls***” after the Frenchman branded Arsenal “babies”.
The Gunners were slammed by pundits after they slipped to defeat at Sheffield United on Monday night.
Manchester United legend Evra said: “I used to call them 'my babies' ten years ago and they still are.
"They look pretty but they don't look like a winning team.”
But in response to Evra, angry Arsenal skipper Xhaka, 27, said: “A lot of people speak too much.
“I have a lot of respect for him because he was a great player.
“But you have to be careful what you say in those situations as well.
“It’s not only him it’s a lot of people. They speak a lot of bulls*** about us. It’s always the same.
“For me, it’s strange because they were in the same situation as us, they were players as well.
“Maybe sometimes it was good, sometimes it was not so good.
“But if you speak every weekend, every game, bulls*** like this, they don’t get respect about what they say.”
Arsenal’s defeat at Bramall Lane means they have gone four Premier League away games without a win since their season opener at Newcastle - with some fans calling for Emery to go.
In contrast, they are unbeaten at Emirates, where they have only dropped two points.
But Xhaka insisted: “We have to stop speaking about mental issues or bulls*** like this.
“For me it’s the same if you play home or away. You have to win.
“You have to show big character. You have to show good games and not to find always the same excuse.”
The Blades’ winner against Arsenal came from a corner as Lys Mousset got on the end of Jack O’Connell’s nod down.
If you want to be in the top four you have to beat Sheffield.
Xhaka admits defeat at Sheffield United isn't good enough.
It is the 22nd league goal the Gunners have conceded from a set-piece since the start of last season, with only Watford and Everton letting in more.
Arsenal are fifth in the table - and Xhaka admitted: “Of course it’s frustrating because it’s so easy.
“It’s too easy if you lose the game because of a corner or free-kick.
“We have to improve things.
“If you want to be in the top four you have to beat Sheffield.”
Gunners boss Unai Emery blamed VAR after the defeat, insisting his side should have had a penalty when Sokratis was brought down in the box by John Egan.
But Xhaka said: “I didn’t see exactly what happened.
“It’s not our job to decide something.
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“If the referee says no, it’s no.”
Arsenal next face Vitoria SC in the Europa League on Thursday before Sunday’s visit of Crystal Palace.
Xhaka added: “We have to speak in our group to improve things and work hard.”