And in one interview suddenly all the questions of why Arsenal coaches love Xhaka have been answered...

Respect to this guy, you can visually see his pain which is hard to find in a modern day footballer with their rich lifesyles

As an Arsenal fan who travelled up to the match last night, it’s nice to hear someone actually taking responsibility!

Nice to see a player give an interview that's not all thought terminating clichés. Absolute respect to the way he answered in that interview.

Respect to Xhaka for being honest😔😔

Sorry but he is 100% right. I am a Arsenal fan and I am sick to death of these bottlejobs.

wow - as a Chelsea fan this guy has really gone up in my estimation. Clearly devastated by the performance. I watched the game and you could see so many of the Arsenal players froze. Fairly play to this guy for speaking out

We can’t accuse Granit of lacking passion. He is fired up every match and I loved that. Like us he is only human and we all make mistakes but to have fight and passion makes him a natural leader- I want to see more of Granit next season. He is a real asset.

Atleast he isn’t sugar coating it, most players on that pitch were playing by themselves not as a team, so many random long shots and not enough effort which you rarely say about this arsenal side. Disappointed that we played like this especially in a crucial game like this.

Nice to hear a player taking responsibility some theses players just feel sorry fair play Xhaka

Well said Granit, exactly what we needed to hear. Shame on Gary Neville for trying to twist his words into something it’s not.

Granit has been very good this season. One of our best. This interview proved why so many coaches love him. Respect, Granit!

Probably the most honest a players has been so fair play to him

Neville took issue with the interview, don't see anything wrong with it myself. Spot on.

Gary Neville: “That was a ‘nothing’ interview- was he blaming the young players!?” Seriously? You’re asking for honesty from a player a few minutes after an important match and he gives it yet is still criticised by the media team wanting the interview. 🤦🏻‍♂️

wow. ive been so impressed by him this season. turned it around. this... spot on!

Really not a fan of Xhaka in general but I respect his honesty here and it needed to be said after we bottled it big time especially tonight, Palace, Southampton, Brighton and Spurs

Why is everyone blaming Arteta? My man isn’t out on the pitch playing. Xhaka clearly said, “not listening to the coach”. Starting to think some of you didn’t watch this interview.

He is speaking facts I am saying this as a United fan respect to xhaka 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Interviewer pushing the question about whether they were too young, Xhaka replying it had nothing to do with age, Neville and Carra then having a go at him for blaming the kids???

Xhaka just sounded like a player version of Jose Mourinho with this interview

True and honest words , Man. I felt like Xhaka speaking on behalf of fan/ as a fan .. I exactly feel the same. No excuses, we need the best coz we deserve the best... Thanks Arteta competing for top4 with this squad.. You deserve better..

Watching this 4 months on now and wow what a player Xhaka has become, a true leader. Now he played last match as captain again and the fans sung his name, what a turnaround for him. Fairplay, considering I and most other fans were sure he would’ve been shipped out after the armband situation

xhaka has been completely class this season in every department

Arsenal are amazing! They Just need to work on their short + long passing, shooting, movement off the ball, positioning, crossing,decision-making, set pieces,man-marking, dribbling, fitness, ball control, tackling, counter-attacking, overlapping, running, blocking & scoring goals

Thank You, Xhaka For speaking up… All the players had to do was to motivate themselves, with such a huge incentive at hand, they failed the Fans, Manager and everyone at the club.

Wish the rest of the team had Xhakas winning mentality, might have got a CL spot. Love him or hate him he has passion and wants to win.

Respect to Xhaka for actually having the balls to be honest. Gary Neville can also stfu about “disgrace” as he’s actually being HONEST.

They blew it all away just when their fans started to dream and have hopes again.. They've just shattered thousands of hearts tonight

This is the real captain. Didn't deserve to be stripped of the armband.

This interview changed everything

Well said Xhaka, if only more players and managers in football had this attitude and were honest about their teams performances football would gain alot more respect.

Very true & honest interview. Thank you Xhaka.

Xhaka you are a general . Excellent speech and I appreciate the sheer honesty

"If someone isn't ready for this match they should stay at home!" Did you not connect to those strongly emotional words that spews passion, anger and remorse? Granit is indeed a charismatic leader and it's hard to find this in celebrity footballers nowadays. Earned my Respect!

Well done Granit. Needed to be said. We're not ready for Champions League football unfortunately. I like Gary Neville but he completely missed the mark criticising Xhaka for this.

He’s a good player, shame arteta didn’t sign anyone in jan. Would’ve covered so many issues that came up because we didn’t.

Xhaka is spot on we need more honesty

I can see why managers keep giving him the armband despite what he did before. He is a true leader, especially compared to the rest of that lockeroom

Fair play to Granit Xhaka man, seeing an improvement in his attitude and performances is at least one positive moving forward

One of the best interviews. Well Done Xhaka

Gary Neville has rapidly became one of my favourite pundits in the last few years, but his reaction to the Xhaka interview tonight was definitely wrong, the guys just telling it like it is, more people need to be like that imo

only one word, respect! we need players like that ❤

Wherever powers may lie, xhaka might not even be there as off next season to make way for a very talented young lokonga. His experience and winning leadership is paramount to the squad developement. Theres no need for sorrys or apologise we can win the league and the europa league next season through dedication and commitment.

Very rare you get such an honest interview from players these days. My respect for Xhaka increased after seeing this.

Respect for Xhaka. Honest and not mincing any words, looks devastated.

Big man.. owning up and putting team mates on blast.. Keep it 💯🤩🤩

You know what Xhaka has come under so much scrutiny the last couple years, but he's been one of our best players this year. You can see and hear the pain in his voice. He's right, though we clearly just didn't deserve it

Thank You Xhaka. Someone FINALLY Came out to Tell The Real Truth. A Blind Man can See the Situation ! Where is the Fight? The Passion? Gone… Not for One Game. But for the Whole Season. Because This is The Badge on your Shirt sitting above your Heart that you Should Fight for.

Xhaka is the LEADER ARSENAL NEEDS give him the REINSTATE HIM AS THE CLUB CAPTAIN GIVE HIM THE BAND NEXT SEASON AND THINGS WILL CHANGE FOR BETTER

Arteta has been a great manager this season and arsenal has been great this season, don’t blame arteta for your players bottling it

Outplayed by a far better, hungry team! Bottled every tackle, bottled the atmosphere and deserved what they got! Credit to Newcastle and their amazing fans!! What a place to watch a game, by far the best atmosphere I have seen by a home crowd. The display before was unreal...🔥

one of the few players today that showed any sort of passion, well done granit

30 nketiah 35 martinelli 10 smith rose 18 tomiyasu

I'm not even ranting but I swear I haven't seen Odegaard on the pitch until his blocked shot before Newcastle's 2nd goal. The team couldn't live up with Newcastle's pressing and physicality. It was all good to get the deadwood out of the club in January transfer window but where we failed was the lack of recruitment and this is the board to blame

Thank you Xhaka. Your honesty and visual disappointment shows that you cared and you wanted this. I'm heartbroken to say the least, but it is what it is and life goes on. Head up gunners

He genuinely love arsenal and his passion for football damn

Respect to him, changed my view on him after this interview

As a spurs fan… fair play! Very honest!

Thats all they all love him because he is real and strict

I had the exact same thoughts as what he said about not deserving to play in the Champions League. We wouldn't survive the group stage in the Champions League or Europa League playing like that. I appreciate Xhaka's honesty here.

Love your honesty Granit, thank you for your efforts this season

It’s so refreshing to see a player say it, as it is

This guy is a top player, I don’t care what you Arsenal fans think of him. He does play well but the poor playing of his teamates destroy all his good play. He is carrying Arsenal and without him this season, we would’ve finish mid in the table. He is on about the likes of Smith rowe and Martinelli

As a leicester fan who witnessed extreme bottling of top 4 I wish we had someone as honest has granit here, no bs got straight to the point and no excuses

Respect for your honesty Xhaka🙏🏾

Not every often you hear or see a footballer come and speak so candidly and honestly. Big respect to him for this and he's absolutely right.

This is guy is typically Albanian. They stand still for the truth and reality. Respect to you Sir. Next season is yours

This man was absolutely gutted…hardly could find words😔😔 I still haven’t recovered ..haven’t come to my senses..how did we bottle 4points clear with 2 games in hand at 4th place..how??? Man I’m gutted to the core

Respect for being honest. However if Xhaka & Saka knew they were not playing to Arteta's game plan etc, then how many others knew aswell? And why did they not?

He should get the armband back....i bet he should captain the team again

Honesty at its finest, what you love to see 👍

respect to granit for being honest 👏🏼

Can't wait for the all or nothing show and seeing what arteta told them to do in this game and what he said at half time and full time.

Xhaka , Respect , i can't say anything about your you're really good player inside and outside,

What a difference in him this season in 2023 omg solid 👏

Say what you want about Xhaka, but he’s not wrong. Arsenal have done well to put themselves in a position where their objectives are within reach and when they need a performance the most, the players look jittery and pathetic.

Well said xhaka, but to get this far with this squad is an over achievement in its self...Europa League is a good result for us and this season is a big lesson for a lot of our young players.... Well done!

Xhaka Big respect You did great to night honestly.

He has my vote what a top attitude to have and he is venting frustration at the lack of fight this team has, yes in 4/5 years this team would be incredible but we want to compete now and investing has its results but we as a football club need those results now

Conte came in half way through the season and got Spurs top 4, While Mikel had been fighting for it for 4-5 seasons . This is the difference between a top coach vs Peps assistant

Experience can spot inexperience, and it seems he’s not wrong. You can sense it on the pitch and Xhaka definitely can in the dressing room. He never seems scared to speak up, which is not always a good thing, but in this instance, I empathise with the frustration. Spoke on what we all saw through the cracks, but hoped was not enough to fall through - no signings in January. Whether it’s the board or Mikel / Edu, it was so blatant to everyone but them. You can barely fill a FIFA squad with first team players, let alone signing *quality* first team players. £30m Guimarães was the differential today, and he could’ve been our differential (or someone of his calibre) had we pulled our weight in January. We go again next season, constantly falling one step behind and seemingly never able to take an opportunities when it is presented to us. It’s getting tiring.

So refreshing to hear a player being honest

Gary Neville want to take an advantage to make the spotlight into him . Granit was superb player for dedicatedly to the team . Do not forget that he is captain of Swiss team . He knew something strange . Bless you ,

im a Liverpool fan but tbh this is the strongest the team has ever been - but its a young inexperienced team the team are not experienced enough so they would be embarrassed in the champions league its best you plau europa and attract some experience you need a mixture of youth and experience

He literally watched as Bruno ran past him and scored the goal instead of following him. This man should stay home

Got to give credit to his parents for brining up such a fine young man who is honest & forthcoming in admitting his mistakes ~ he’s got a bright future ahead. Only those who come clean & realize their shortfall will truly learn their lesson 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Seems 100% genuine - no airbrushed answers. Well said bro.

He’s spot on; sometimes Carragher and Neville need to think before they turn on interviewees like a pair of schoolyard bullies. Xhaka spoke for all Arsenal fans.

Great move to give arteta another 3 years before the season ended. Trust the process !

I hope Xhaka decides to join Roma. Mourinho needs players like Xkaka who are honest to themselves and dont hide. Plus he's a fantastic player.

Fair shout......I admire he's honesty

Xhaka is 100% spot on here

Two things i saw tonight : 1) The small group of players we have 2) the light physicality of our team 1° This team was simply too light in terms of group of players to get to top4. There wasnt even defenders to replace a wing back or a central defender, i rarely saw that in any top 8 team of premier league since long time. There wasnt even defenders to replace a wing back or a central defenders, i rarely saw that in a top8 team of the premier league since long time. Pépé is not a usefull substitute, lacazette also, so there wasn't anyone to come on the pitch. Arsenal need to continue their good tranfer politic after last summer. Continue to get rid of unusefull players, sell the players like bellerin, Laca, Holding, Pépé, Guendouzi, even Saliba if needed to get money. And loan Tavarez, so he doesn't stay in the training ground. 2° The difference in physicality between the two teams. I said somewhere else that a young squad team cannot be build in 1 or 2 years (Klopp also took time, watch liverpool in 2016/2017). So they need to rise intensity i this summer, but also physicallity. The difference of muscles between the magpies and gunners was stunning. Must Newcastle players worked great in muscle sessions. Arsenal need to massivly gain in physicality. I think even if Partey were there, the result would have been the same. Odegaard coud'nt hold the ball against Guimaraes.

Xhaka, such a leader 👏

I love this guy. One of the reasons why my fellow gooners don’t agree with me on things. Him and Arteta are men I respect beyond their professions. The reason why so many people don’t like them is because I think most football fans don’t have the intelligence to see their qualities. And yes I liked them both from the very beginning, I haven’t ever swayed from that

Xhaka you should be the captain your honesty and commitment deserves it

Ironic coming from a man that has cost us countless times over his arsenal career. He is just 1 of many that needs to go.

I have been one of Xhaka's biggest critics in the past but respect for him not making excuses

They honesty is respected. Arsenal have a long way to go!