BBC pundit: Wayward Arsenal first teamer in danger of not getting selected by Wenger

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Published on:

11 Dec 2016, 3:39 am

By Harry Sykes

BBC pundit Danny Murphy has claimed that Granit Xhaka is in danger of losing his Arsenal starting place due to his lack of discipline.

The Gunners summer signing conceded a penalty in their 3-1 win over Stoke on Saturday when he elbowed Joe Allen in the box.

Referee Ryan Mason pointed to the spot and Charlie Adam slotted away the spot-kick to put the visitors ahead but goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi secured the three points for Arsene Wenger's high flying side.

It was the latest act of ill discipline from Xhaka, who has been sent off eight times in the last two years, including for Arsenal against Swansea in October.

Xhaka has taken advantage of the injury to Santi Cazorla to force his way into the Arsenal team and become a regular in central midfield alongside Francis Coquelin.

Former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Murphy explained that he is an admirer of Xhaka but says he must stamp out his reckless behaviour to stay in the team.

"He's talented, a super passer of the ball, he has a nasty streak, which a lot of people say is what you need at this level," said Murphy on BBC's Match of the Day programme on Saturday night.

"He's ill disciplined at times. This [elbow on Allen] is stupid. If he keeps doing things like this, he is not going to get selected by Wenger."

Xhaka played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as Arsenal extended their fine sequence of results to climb to the top of the Premier League table ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.

In other Arsenal news, a BBC pundit has claimed a senior Gunners player does something stupid every game.

Arsenal

Granit Xhaka