"Then-manager Emery had just named Xhaka captain, which was then not a universally popular decision and when the club had thrown away a two-goal lead at home to Crystal Palace, Xhaka was substituted. Booed by fans as he walked off, the midfielder then ill-advisedly cupped his ear to the crowd, told Arsenal fans to f**k off and ripped off his shirt before marching down the Emirates tunnel."
"Mikel, to be honest, was the man who turned my career around, Xhaka tells FourFourTwo. He got me where I am today. I'm very thankful. Everyone knows about what happened in 2019 with the fans, which I still call a big misunderstanding to this day. I don't know why it happened, but there's a nice story behind it."
Granit Xhaka spent seven seasons as a regular in Arsenal's midfield after joining from Borussia Monchengladbach for £35 million in summer 2016. He won the FA Cup in 2017 and 2020 and helped the club transition from Arsène Wenger's era through Unai Emery to Mikel Arteta. In October 2019 Xhaka was booed after being substituted against Crystal Palace, cupped his ear, swore at supporters and removed his shirt, leading to him being stripped of the captaincy. Xhaka later regained form and fan support under Arteta and eventually departed Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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