The Arsenal faithful have flooded to social media this evening, to take firm aim at one particular member of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Martinelli at the double
The Gunners of course made their return to action a short time ago.
No doubt brimming with confidence on the back of a pair of wins over Southampton and West Ham over the course of the last week, Arteta and co. made the trip to Elland Road, keen to extend their advantage over the rest of the Premier League’s top-4 chasing pack.
And, when all was said and done on Saturday evening, this is precisely what they managed.
A commanding performance, which saw them essentially out of sight by half-time, ultimately culminated in Arsenal emerging on the right side of a 4-1 scoreline.
Gabriel Martinelli proved the undoubted star of the show, adding to his strike against West Ham last time out with a sumptuous brace, the 2nd of which can be seen below:
?️ “HOW COOL WAS THAT?!”
Gabriel Martinelli gets his and #AFC‘s second… what a finish! ?
? Watch #LEEARS live on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/Mk2LNDYwae
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 18, 2021
Then, before the whistle had even blown for the interval, Bukayo Saka essentially killed the clash as a contest, with an Arsenal 3rd.
Raphinha did manage to add some respectability to the result courtesy of a wonderfully-placed penalty inside the closing 20 minutes of action, but Emile Smith Rowe’s close-range finish a short time later buried any remaining hope of a Leeds comeback.
Xhaka slammed
Arsenal, in turn, have climbed a full four points clear in the race for 4th in the Premier League (albeit with the clubs below them of course boasting games in hand).
As alluded to above, though, on the back of a fine evening’s work all-round for the club, many of a Gunners persuasion have nevertheless not been shy in taking firm aim at one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
The player in question? Granit Xhaka.
Early in the 2nd-half, with his side cruising in possession of a 3-goal advantage, Swiss midfielder Xhaka was guilty of a completely needless lunge on Raphinha, which saw the 29-year-old blessed to avoid not only a booking, but potentially a straight red card:
No booking ?❌
Granit Xhaka has got away with one there!
? Watch #LEEARS live on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/VT28CPFXal
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 18, 2021
The challenge served as a timely reminder of Xhaka’s penchant for moments of frankly inexcusable madness, a problem which has led some of an Arsenal persuasion to go as far as to reignite calls for the midfield maestro to be moved on in January:
Get Xhaka out of this club
— Thibault Pesque (@PesqueThibault) December 18, 2021
Another problem with Xhaka doing what he’s been doing – the crowd was out of it. Now he’s getting them all riled up? That doesn’t help us. It just annoys me.
— Smith Rowe Show (@AccioArsenal) December 18, 2021
Xhaka diving in to a tackle then acting the clown after it in a game Arsenal are dominating…the guy will never learn
— Steven Coulter (@weecoulter) December 18, 2021
Xhaka has gone in again there, lucky he didn’t make contact. Bloke is complete fucking idiot.
— WG (@worthinggooner) December 18, 2021
Honestly Xhaka should have a red after that, he didn’t miss the ball by accident, he has to go in january
— Arsenal’s Bukayo87 (@ARS__Leon) December 18, 2021
how does Xhaka manage to lose his head in a game where Arsenal are winning quite comfortably ?
he might be the most stupid player I have ever seen
— The Human Highlight Film (@igorsteps_) December 18, 2021
I think xhaka should be next in line to leave. He’ll never learn not to be rough#LEEARS
— Seni Akinrinade MPSN (@seniakinrinade) December 18, 2021
Granit Xhaka being a complete moron again. Will never learn. Will never change. Bin him.
— Kraig (@___Kraig___) December 18, 2021
Xhaka is probably gonna cost us this game. He can’t help himself can he?! Smh.
— ժгε (InfoSec Babysitter) (@AOnung) December 18, 2021
Xhaka will ALWAYS be a liability and nothing more. We need to bin this guy in January and get some proper midfielder in.
— ??????????? (@aubamebangbang) December 18, 2021
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