GRANIT XHAKA once again proved his recklessness after being sent off for a waist-high challenge on Diogo Jota. The Swiss midfielder left the Gunners down to ten men for 65 minutes of their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg at Anfield. It came after Xhaka took out Jota following a cross field pass by left-back Andrew Robertson. […]
GRANIT XHAKA once again proved his recklessness after being sent off for a waist-high challenge on Diogo Jota.
The Swiss midfielder left the Gunners down to ten men for 65 minutes of their Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg at Anfield.
RED CARD!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 13, 2022
Arsenal's Granit Xhaka is sent off after a reckless last man challenge on Liverpool's Diogo Jota pic.twitter.com/n71xpYPzRW
It came after Xhaka took out Jota following a cross field pass by left-back Andrew Robertson.
Robertson’s pass put the Liverpool forward through on goal, before Xhaka’s misstimed tackle with the score level at 0-0.
He ended up booting Jota in the stomach as he tried to clear and immediately saw red for denying the goalscoring opportunity.
It is the fifth time Xhaka has been sent off for Arsenal, with the other four coming in the Premier League.
He was last sent for an early bath in Arsenal’s 5-0 hammering at champions Manchester City in August.
No player has received more Premier League red cards than Xhaka since his Arsenal debut in 2016.
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Xhaka was slammed by Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher following his latest gaffe.
Carragher said: “Xhaka has two or three looks at Jota, he knows he’s there. It’s a perfect pass from Robertson and Jota just needs to get his chest on it.
“Xhaka does what Xhaka does. Makes and absolutely ridiculous challenge when Jota has still got so much to do.
“If the goalkeeper keeps coming, I think he maybe scares Jota and heads it away.
“But, was it a red card? There is no doubt. The way he has taken him out, the forced he’s done it with, it’s a ridiculous challenge.”
GRANIT XHAKA made it easy for Michael Oliver to send him off after his challenge on Diogo Jota.
The Arsenal midfielder tried stretching to reach Andy Robertson’s long ball but only succeeded in clattering into the Liverpool attacker.
It is not clear whether Oliver shows the red card for serious foul play or a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO).
IN all competitions
Granit Xhaka – 5
Fernandinho – 5
David Luiz – 4
Christian Kabasele – 4
With Xhaka’s boot connecting into Jota’s chest you could argue the challenge is endangering the player’s safety.
However, if it was DOGSO there is an element of doubt to the likelihood of Jota keeping or regaining control of the ball as his first touch bounces off his chest at pace.
Either way, Xhaka has forced Oliver into making a decision which went against him.
