Granit has slammed ‘stupid’ Xhaka over his skirmish with Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Mikel Arteta suggesting it contributed to Arsenal losing top spot to Liverpool.

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When will Arsenal learn?

Arsenal were 2-0 up and facing a struggling Liverpool side when an altercation between Granit Xhaka and Trent Alexander-Arnold came out of nowhere.

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Arsenal got off to a dream start at Anfield, where goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put them 2-0 up in the first 28 minutes.

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They had to settle for a point in a match they could have easily lost

Xhaka left his arm on Alexander-Arnold when he played a pass to Alisson, the right-back then pushed the Gunners midfielder in retaliation, and this brought the duo coming head-to-head as tensions boiled over.

Anfield woke up after that incident, and after just one minute and 27 seconds, Mohamed Salah scored a goal to reduce Arsenal’s lead.

Salah missed a penalty kick after the end of the first half, but Liverpool did not miss the opportunity to make an impact in Arsenal winning the title, as Roberto Firmino equalized in the 87th minute.

But for two great injury-time chests by Aaron Ramsdal against Arsenal, North Londanders would have left Merseyside empty-handed.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Carragher expressed his frustration with Xhaka over his behavior in front of the Anfield crowd when his side were resting.

“It sounds silly, I’m glad Xhaka did it but I’m angry at Xhaka. I’m not an Arsenal fan but if you’re an Arsenal fan what do you do? It’s so silly!”

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Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold had to be separated after a late Swiss international challenge

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Carragher can’t believe Xhaka has put himself in the position he reads most about in football

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“The game is in your hands, you engage, so you let go of the challenge, arm, why would you do that? And now coming back face to face with Trent excites the crowd.”

Completely stupid of Xhaka to do that and you know what it is, he’s been great this season in a slightly different role up the field, and he’s had a huge impact on this team. But that was going back to the old Xhaka.

“Honestly, who knows if it leads to the goal, we don’t know, but for an experienced player to do something like that in this land, the center has found itself in it.

“There was only one way Liverpool could get back into that game, and that was with the help of the stands. This is just a game of football, now Liverpool can’t compete with Arsenal. But with the energy on the field they can, and they almost lost the game.”

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Liverpool bounced back with Firmino winning 2-2

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Is Shaka guilty?

It is like an incident in this game last season which saw Arsenal manager Arteta unleash an incredible and very unexpected tirade towards opposite player Jurgen Klopp.

At the time, Arsenal were shading things up and smothering their title-chasing opponents, but the atmosphere took a turn and Liverpool went on to win 4-0.

Arteta was blamed for tipping the game in Liverpool’s favor and the Spaniard seemed to suggest that the Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold incident on Sunday contributed to Liverpool’s comeback.

He told Sky Sports: “It can also happen because they score a goal too, it builds some momentum and it gives them some faith. That’s what it is, the lesson in the first 35-40 minutes.

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Arteta knows exactly what it will feel like to lose at Anfield after he yelled at Klopp during a match last season in November 2021.

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No arguments for Arteta this time around but not all of his players can keep their cool

“The way the team played and getting into a stadium like this and doing what we’ve done.

“But then we have to keep cognizant of the crowd, cognizant of the score and we’ll go and look for a third and a fourth.”

Arsenal have their fate in their own hands as they hold a six-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand on them.

It means Arsenal will likely be asked to avoid defeat when they take on Pep Guardiola’s men on April 26. And that will require calm from everyone involved.

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