Arsenal ’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hang by a thread after falling to defeat at the hands of Newcastle on Monday night. A Ben White own goal gave the home side the lead, before Bruno Guimaraes doubled the lead with five minutes to go.
It leaves the Gunners languishing in fifth, two points behind North London rivals Tottenham with just one game to play. It means Mikel Arteta will be relying on his side to pick up maximum points against Everton on Sunday, while hoping that already relegated Norwich can overcome Spurs.
It makes the chance of finishing fourth unlikely for the Emirates outfit, despite being in the driving seat for the majority of the year. Following the game, midfielder Granit Xhaka took to media duties and seemingly lashed out at his teammates after their performance.
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Speaking to Sky Sports in a fiery interview, he said: “If your mind's not ready for this match, stay at home. Simple as it, no? Doesn’t matter about age, you can be 35, 10, you can be 18 if you’re not ready for that - nervous - stay on the bench, stay at home, don’t come here.
“We need people who have the balls, sorry to say that, we’re here to play because we knew this game was one of the most important for us. When you perform like this it is not accepted. Very, very sad for us, disappointing for us, I feel very, very sorry for the people who came here to support us, feel very, very sorry for the Arsenal supporters.
“This is not the way we wanted to go, this is the only thing I can say and sorry to them, I don’t have any other words.”
It sums up a very tough period for the Gunners, who seem to have come so close, yet so far when it mattered most. However, following the interview, both Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher questioned the meaning behind the Swiss international’s words.
Neville reacted: “I don’t know what to make of that interview. I think I heard him say stay at home if you haven’t got the balls, he’s obviously having a right dig at people in his dressing room, I don’t know who he’s having a go at. I hope he wasn’t having a go at his young players. Him? He was a right disgrace at times over the last four or five years. He’s left it up in the air there. That was nothing that.”
That sentiment was one shared by Carragher, who added: “He’s come out strong and we like players to be honest, strong in interviews. It’s also easy to come out and be strong with your words, he’ll maybe get credit for it.
“Do it on the pitch. He’s pointing out some of the young players - maybe I’ve got the wrong gist of the interview - as an experienced player saying some of these players weren’t ready for the fight.”
It remains to be seen exactly what is next for Xhaka and the rest of his teammates come the end of the season, but their short-term focus will switch to picking themselves back up for the challenge of Everton on Sunday.
