Martin Keown and Danny Murphy slam Granit Xhaka after latest red card against Burnley

ByKevin Coulson

Published 23/01/2017 at 17:53 GMT

Martin Keown and Danny Murphy have criticised Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka after his sending off against Burnley on Sunday.

The Switzerland midfielder has been sent off nine time in three seasons following his rash tackle on Burnley’s Steven Defour at the Emirates.

It follows another red card against Swansea earlier in the season for a tackle on Modou Barrow.

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka is consoled by Olivier Giroud after being sent off

Image credit: Reuters

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And speaking on Match of the Day 2, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy pulled no punches in his analysis of Xhaka.

Analysing the 2-2 victory for Arsene Wenger's men, he said: "I feel a little bit for him because he is not being played in the right role, he's in the holding role but he is becoming a liability.

"This technique he has found for tackling is silly. He keeps getting himself in these predicaments and he will end up not playing because the other players will get sick of it.

I would hope someone would say to me you need to calm down.

"Who is saying that to him?"

Keown, a former Arsenal centre-back, then added: "He needs to clean up his act but he is with the right kind of manager.

"It's a ridiculous number of red cards, he is getting the balance wrong.

"Arsene Wenger apologised after the game but Xhaka should be apologising for getting sent off.

"He will learn, he will change - he has to change."

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