Granit Xhaka is one of ‘many’ Arsenal players new manager would want to sell

Granit Xhaka is one of “many” Arsenal players a new manager would want to sell, claims former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley.

Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy earlier this week by head coach Unai Emery.

That is following the Switzerland star’s angry reaction to crowd criticism during the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Emirates last month.

Burley reckons it would be best for all parties if Xhaka was sold by the Gunners.

However, he says the 27-year-old is not the only player a new boss would want to get rid of.

The future of Emery is in doubt following a run of one win in six matches in all competitions.

“I think [Xhaka’s] best out of Arsenal at some point and Arsenal are best with him out,” Burley told ESPN FC.

“He’s another one of the players, and there are many, many of them at Arsenal, who when a new manager comes in, and that’s looking likely, that they’re going to have to have another rethink, another rethink about how they’re going to get back to the top of the English game.

“He’s an unfortunate pawn in this terrible chess game at the moment at this club.

“Just another club who are going through turmoil after changing a manager that’s been there many, many years.”

Xhaka has since explained his reaction when being substituted against Palace, by claiming months of abuse online had led him to “boiling point”.

But Burley says the midfielder should just stay away from social media.

The Scot added: “Whilst I can’t condone the kind of stuff people get – death threats, threats to family, threats to yourself – all those kind of things, we’ve all had it, I can’t condone it but I can’t say it’s a reason for you to get superbly upset because all you have to do is switch it off.

“Get off it, forget about it, get on with your job.”

source: express.co.uk