Granit Xhaka has received the backing of team-mates past and present after his calamitous error against Burnley.
The Swiss midfielder was at fault for the Clarets leveller in Saturday s 1-1 draw at Turf Moor, directing an attempted pass into the midriff of Chris Wood, with the ball diverting into the net.
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, Xhaka has made eight errors leading to goals in the top flight, which is more than any other outfield Premier League player.
He looked set to head into Thursday s Europa League clash at Olympiacos with criticism ringing in his ears, having felt compelled to issue an apology on Instagram.
But the 28-year-old has since been showered with praise by Thomas Partey and ex-Gunner Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who is now with Olympiacos.
8 Since the start of 2016-17, Granit Xhaka has made more errors leading to goals (8) than any other outfield player in the Premier League. Disaster.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
I think he s a great player, said Partey. We all know he works hard for the club, he works hard for his team-mates when he s on the pitch.
As we all know in football, you never know when you re going to have a bad day and that s part of it.
We have to keep raising each other, keep fighting for each other and that s how we re going to have a good game and win matches.
All the players know what we have to do when we play together. It doesn t matter who we play with, we have to do our best and win games.
Striking a similar tone to Partey, Sokratis – who joined Arsenal in 2018 and left in January this year – offered a glowing tribute to his former team-mate.
Granit is one of the best team-mates I ve had the pleasure of working with, Sokratis told Football London.
He s a very important player for Arsenal and I believe that he s a good player who can be a leader in the team.
When you make one mistake everybody will go against you, but I know Granit s character. Before the Burnley game he played five or six games where he was probably the best player in the team.
I think he s one of Arsenal s best players and certainly one of the best midfielders that I ve played with.
In between Arsenal s two-legged round-of-16 clash with Olympiacos, Mikel Arteta s side have the small matter of Sunday s north London derby with Tottenham.
