Arsenal hero Ian Wright has criticised Granit Xhaka's interview following Monday night's loss to Newcastle.
The Swiss captain was left bemused by the way some of his teammates performed at St. James' Park, claiming that those who are nervous should stay at home. Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: "If someone isn't ready for this game, stay at home.
"It doesn't matter your age. If you're nervous, stay on the bench or stay at home.
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"You need people to have the balls to come here and play." However, Gunners icon Wright was unimpressed by the candid nature of Xhaka's interview.
"Seeing a player coming out and saying 'they didn't listen to the coach's instructions' is a very strange interview from Granit Xhaka," the former England frontman told Premier League MatchDay Extra, via HITC, when asked about the 29-year-old's comments. "To say it now, I don't think it helps anybody – it's very magnanimous of him to come out be honest.
"That's the kind of talk you want in the dressing room for them to understand when you go out there, then you know what you need to do. Afterwards, it probably makes people upset, especially when you aren't naming names.
"I felt it's the kind of talk you want before the game. It's very easy to say afterwards because, the Tottenham game, you come out and say it then."
The loss on Tyneside means the Gunners are now two points behind Tottenham Hotspur going into the final Premier League game of the season. Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates Stadium whilst Spurs travel to Carrow Road to take on already-relegated Norwich, with the Lilywhites needing just a point to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League considering their vastly superior goal difference compared to their local rivals.
