Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness labelled Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka a ‘fool’ for his role in Paul Pogba’s opening goal for Manchester United yesterday.
The Independent report that Souness was less than impressed with the stand-in captain’s defensive display at Old Trafford.
Xhaka attempted to tackle Pogba but slid straight past him, allowing the Frenchman to break into the box and convert the loose ball after Alexis Sanchez had hit the post.
On the challenge, Souness, who was speaking on Sky Sports, said:
It’s ridiculous, if he doesn’t do this then he doesn’t commit his centre halves. Get there, stand up, commit a cute foul if necessary but don’t sell yourself as simply as that.
That’s for the TV cameras and people sitting in Row Z. It’s kid football, it’s more of the same from Arsenal. That guy is 25-years-old and he’s been at Arsenal for two years. Is that the first time he’s done that in a game? I question no. Does he do that in training? Then if so why hasn’t it been pointed out to him? He’s cost them that goal.
In what was the last time Arsenal will be managed by Arsene Wenger at Old Trafford, Pogba’s goal was pegged back by Henrikh Mkhitaryan before Marouane Fellaini scored a 90th-minute winner.
The result means the Gunners can no longer finish in the top four this season and must win the Europa League if they want to be playing Champions League football next year.
Souness also said that yesterday’s performance was reflective of the last 10 years at Arsenal:
When it comes to the critical things in the game they’re not professional. They need a couple of men to sort these things out. Nobody has pointed a finger at Xhaka to say: ‘Stay on your feet you fool’. It’s the basic things.
