Granit Xhaka victim of agenda after Arsenal controversy analysed – Campbell
Kevin Campbell has suggested Premier League referees have an agenda against Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gunners and Everton striker slammed the decision to book Xhaka, 29, for diving but not Eberechi Eze.
Xhaka was booked for diving in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the new Premier League campaign (5 August).
Palace attacker Eze went down under minimal contact moments earlier at Selhurst Park but no action was taken by referee Anthony Taylor.
In the 2021-22 campaign, Xhaka received the second highest number of yellow cards in the Premier League (10).
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the two first-half incidents on Friday night, Campbell said: “Look, we saw one player get booked for diving and another player not get booked.
“As players and fans, all you want is consistency. If everyone gets booked, fair enough. Either you book everybody or you book no one. You have to be consistent with these things.
“What a shock that Xhaka got booked out of everyone. He is an easy target for referees. If you ask me, the referees cannot wait to book him.
“Xhaka did well to stay on the pitch, in all honesty, because he got booked in the first half. I think he had a really good game actually, I must say.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed four stars will likely follow Bernd Leno out the exit door at Arsenal after news is confirmed.