Unai Emery has defended Granit Xhaka after the midfielder’s performance against Tottenham.
Xhaka gave away a penalty in a woeful display in the 2-2 draw with Spurs, but remains a candidate to be Arsenal’s new captain.
Emery is poised to name a new skipper after the departure of Laurent Koscielny during the summer and said he spoke to Xhaka after his error against Tottenham.
‘We’ve been speaking — mistake, recognise that mistake, learn, correct, improve and after repeat with success,’ Emery explained.
‘Every player makes mistakes, only some are magnified because the consequence is more.
‘But I am really focused on the good things, on the positive performances and Xhaka has a big character and is very important for us.
‘He played a very good match against Tottenham, he made a mistake that was a penalty, he knows and we are working to improve, to change that mistake in one process.’
Xhaka captained Arsenal during the north London derby, but fans were left fuming with his recklessness.
But Emery hailed Xhaka as a leader in his side and a crucial figure in his squad.
‘Of course, he gives us a very good balance in the middle with the ball and without the ball,’ he said. ‘I think he is very important for us.
‘We can talk about the defects for every player, for him also, but we can speak about positive things, the very positive performances he gives us in most matches.’
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