Former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher defended the decision to give Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka a yellow card, as he believed the former Gunners’ captain had it coming. Xhaka was given his sixth yellow card of the season during Mikel Arteta’s side’s 1-0 away victory over Aston Villa.
He was disciplined by referee Andy Madley after a foul on Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia. Except the nature of the incident seemed to be very minimal, thus making the decision a very harsh one.
But shortly after Madley went to his pocket, Xhaka became incensed after the referee reportedly explained that he had been disciplined as he had already made several fouls - his challenge on Buendia was his first foul of the contest. But Gallagher, who did not appear to realise it was his first foul, supported his former colleague’s decision.
"If you look at the referee, the referee actually signals that it's for an accumulation of offences,” Gallagher said to Sky Sports. "If you look at the referee now, it tells you it wasn't just for that, it was one that had been coming.
“So I think that's why he gets it, it's not that he's picked on as you put it." Xhaka has previously expressed his frustration at the treatment he receives from referees.
“I don’t want to give arguments for others to speak about me for stupid things. I try not to risk too much,” Xhaka said in an interview with the Athletic in December. “When I once got a red card, the referee said to one of my team-mates, ‘You know how Granit is, he loses his head’.
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“This feels wrong. Just because I lost my head against Burnley for example, it is not like I lose my head every time. To put me in this box like this I believe is wrong.”
The Switzerland captain has also opened up about the intense scrutinisation of his performances and his temperament, particularly in the days proceeding a match where he either made a mistake or been sent off.
He has been shown two red cards for the Gunners this season, the first of which came in the Gunners’ humiliating 5-0 away defeat to Manchester City in their third Premier League match of the campaign. He was also shone a straight red card for a high, lunging challenge during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw against Liverpool, in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
Over the course of his 240 appearances for the Gunners, he has received 64 yellow cards and four red cards. But the former Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder also stated that he often pulls out of challenges to avoid being shown a red card.
“If I risk I know I am closer to a red card than any other player in the Premier League. Maybe I am wrong but that is what I feel,” Xhaka added.
“So sometimes in a game I stop myself from going for the risky ones because if I get a red card it all starts up again.”
