These Leeds United fans have slated Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka after numerous wild tackles during the two sides FA Cup clash.
Granit Xhaka walked away from the FA Cup clash between Arsenal and Leeds United without a booking, despite a few of his four attempted tackles being slightly wild. The Peacocks fans then found it hard to take when Mateusz Klich was booked, but the Polish midfielder did only complete 43% of his seven attempted tackles, so in hindsight, he probably had a booking coming.
Here’s what the Leeds fans had to say about Xhaka’s ability to escape the referee’s book:
How is Granit Xhaka still on the pitch? Absolute disgrace.
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) January 6, 2020
Absolutely disgraceful
— Oliver Barlow (@OliverBarlow) January 6, 2020
Xhaka is such a clown.
— Chris Steele (@ChrisSteele) January 6, 2020
You just knew it was gonna happen…my money was on Phillips to get it that was my only surprise
— Ian Smith (@wolfeysmith) January 6, 2020
Right. Xhaka is an idiot, Taylor is a shocking ref and VAR is pointless. If that’s what is awaiting us I’m not sure I want that…I guess we will take the rough with the smooth #LUFC
— Emma Holmes (@EmmaSmileHolmes) January 6, 2020
Three things I learned about Arsenal last night…1. Granit Xhaka is possibly the slowest player i’ve ever seen, 2. Granit Xhaka falls over…A lot and 3. Arsenal fans only sing when they’re winning. #lufc
— Wayne Wellwood (@WayneWellwood) January 7, 2020
How do Arsenal fans tolerate Xhaka? He’s a cheat #lufc
— Dan (@ItsDanbob) January 6, 2020
Xhaka has taken out at least 5 players and has no card. Klich takes out Xhaka, gets a yellow……. #LUFC
— JOSH (@jshbckhs) January 6, 2020
Did Granit Xhaka escape a booking?
Yes
No
For large parts of the game, despite being the Championship side, Leeds were the team on top against Premier League Arsenal. Marcelo Bielsa’s side had 18 shots and also finished the match with 58.4% of the possession. One fan still couldn’t understand why Xhaka, though, failed to have his name taken and asked what he needed to do to get booked.
Would this be enough for Granit Xhaka to get booked? #LUFC #ARSLEE pic.twitter.com/4u0rLv0XFJ
— billy (@billygateslufc) January 6, 2020
Granit Xhaka didn’t even get a card at Christmas. The scoundrel #ARSLEE #LUFC
— Parody Bamford (@PatrickBamford_) January 6, 2020
What Do We Think?
Leeds fans may feel quite unlucky in many aspects after the match, as the Peacocks didn’t really put a foot wrong, controlling large parts of the game which can be seen in their 58.4% possession stat. However, perhaps Bielsa needs to get his side to become more clinical, mainly because after six shots on-target and eight off-target, his side failed to score.
Xhaka, who is valued at £27 million (as per Transfermarkt), was probably lucky to get away with a few wild tackles, but the Swiss midfielder’s poor pass success rate of 79% most likely caused some frustration. However, you have to praise Bielsa’s high-pressure football for the mistakes made, as Arsenal only completed 73% of their 317 passes.