Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka apologises for ‘f*** off’ rant and reveals fans ‘wished his daughter got cancer’
GRANIT XHAKA has explained his "f*** off" rant at Arsenal fans and said he reached "boiling point" after receiving sickening abuse in which people wished his daughter would get cancer.
The Gunners captain also said others had threatened to kill his wife and break his legs.
A statement released on Xhaka's behalf through Arsenal's Twitter account read: "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 per cent 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'.
"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."
Xhaka raged at Arsenal fans after they booed him in the Gunners 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last Sunday.
Emirates chiefs will not take disciplinary action against him because they have concerns about his fragile mental state.
A club insider confirmed that the 27-year-old - who deleted his Arsenal profile photo on Instagram - has become increasingly dejected by the abuse he has received in recent weeks, both on the pitch and on social media.
His wife Leonita Lekaj, who has 202,000 Instagram followers, has also been forced to change her privacy settings on her social media accounts after being abused by Arsenal fans.
She gave birth to their first child, a baby girl, at the start of October.
And Unai Emery insists that the question of Xhaka’s continuing captaincy takes second place to his mental wellbeing.
He said: “I spoke with Granit on Sunday, on Monday and again in training and it is not easy for him.
“I don’t need his apology to me because I know he is devastated. He is very down and we need to support him.
“He has a great commitment with the club every day. He has the values, the experience and the respect of the dressing room. He has the conditions to be the captain and all the players respect that.
“But he was wrong on Sunday and that was not the response of a captain.”
Xhaka's Gunners pal Lucas Torreira was pictured in tears over the incident on Sunday.
Emery must decide if Xhaka - who missed the Carabao Cup thriller against Liverpool - is in the right frame of mind to return for Saturday's Premier League game against Wolves at the Emirates.