Granit Xhaka: Campbell issues ‘100 per cent’ claim after ’embarrassing’ Arsenal footage analysed
Kevin Campbell is “100 per cent” sure Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was booked on reputation against Aston Villa.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gunners and Everton striker claimed the decision to book the 29-year-old was “nonsense” and “embarrassing”.
Xhaka received a yellow card for his first foul in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
The centre-midfielder questioned the decision after referee Andrew Madley appeared to imply the booking was for repeating fouling.
Xhaka has received 64 yellow cards and four reds since arriving to the Emirates in 2016.
When asked if the Switzerland international’s reputation preceded him at Villa Park, Campbell told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “100 per cent.
“Of course he is. The referee is pointing to stuff that never happened. It is a figment of the imagination. The referee has pointed to three different spots and then booked him.
“It is nonsense and embarrassing. It’s Xhaka so he is booking him. There is no doubt in my mind.
“These things need to be looked at. English referees are not good enough. There is only a couple of good ones if we are honest. Half of them are not fit for purpose.”
Ex-Fifa official Keith Hackett told Football Insider (22 March) that Madley was wrong to book Xhaka at Villa Park.
He said: “It just shows how you have got to be so careful when communicating to a player when issuing a yellow card.”
In other news, Kevin Campbell has revealed he ‘loves’ what he has heard from opposition players after Arsenal footage emerges.