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Arsenal players stand by captain Granit Xhaka ‘all the way’, says Emiliano Martinez

Xhaka yet to apologise to supporters for confrontation last weekend

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Thursday 31 October 2019 13:01 GMT
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Unai Emery says there were positives to take from Liverpool loss

Emiliano Martinez has insisted that the Arsenal first-team squad supports captain Granit Xhaka “all the way” after his bitter confrontation with supporters last weekend.

Xhaka was loudly jeered by large sections of the Emirates home crowd on Sunday while being substituted during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

The 27-year-old cupped his ear in response and appeared to swear at fans as he walked straight down the tunnel, tearing his shirt off in the process.

Xhaka, who played no part in Wednesday’s extraordinary 5-5 penalty shoot-out defeat at Liverpool, is yet to be convinced that he should apologise to supporters.

And Martinez believes that, having been elected Arsenal’s captain by a player vote, Xhaka still retains the support of his team-mates.

“He’s a great leader for us and we support him all the way,” the goalkeeper said following Wednesday night’s League Cup elimination.

On whether he and other had spoken to Xhaka, Martinez said: “We always do, all of us. He’s a lovely guy.

“He’s a bit devastated because he has got a good family, a good heart and he loves the club. When someone goes through that, we have to support him and we are together.

“It was a shock because we know how much he cares about the club, everyone has got emotions," Martinez added.

"At that time he wasn’t thinking much about that, because we were 2-2 and the fans wanted to win the game.

“It was a bit nervous in the stadium but I think if he does it again he won’t think about that, he will come off quick. We support him all the way.

“The manager decides if he’s the captain or not. But for us as a group, as a leader, we support him all the way."

Xhaka was never likely to play at Anfield but is set to return to Arsenal's starting line-up for Saturday's meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates.

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