Granit Xhaka has accused some of his Arsenal team-mates of not having 'the balls' to play at St. James' Park with his side in desperate need of three points to ensure Champions League qualification was in their own hands. Instead, it was Newcastle United who looked liked they were in the hunt for European football.
An own goal from Ben White and a late Bruno Guimaraes strike ensured Eddie Howe's side would stay in the hunt for a top-half finish ahead of the final day of the season. The former Arsenal captain has accused his team-mates of not being up for the fight in front of a full house at St. James' Park.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game Xhaka said: "It's difficult to find the right words. From the first minute to the 90th we didn't deserve to be on the pitch.
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"I can't explain to you why. We didn't do what the game plan was, not listening to the coach. What happened was a disaster performance. You don't deserve to play Champions League or even Europa League.
"It's very hard to take it at the moment. I don't know why we're not doing what the coach is asking for us."
The Arsenal midfielder was asked if inexperience played it's part in the result, to which he responded: "If someone isn't ready for this game, stay at home. It doesn't matter your age. If you're nervous, stay on the bench or stay at home.
"You need people to have the balls to come here and play. It's one of the most important games for us. We're feeling very disappointed for the people who came over here. Sorry to them [fans], I don't have any other words.
"The dressing room is very quiet. The game plan was totally different to what we did over 90 minutes. We are waiting for six years. We had everything in our hands. We looked like we were in the position where Newcastle are and they were where we are."
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has called the Gunners midfielder a "disgrace" following his comments post-match. He said: “I think I heard him say, ‘stay at home if you haven’t got the balls'. So he’s obviously having a go at people in his dressing room.
“I don’t know who he’s having a go at, I hope he wasn’t having a go at the younger players…him? I tell you what he's been a disgrace at times over the last four or five years, getting sent off recklessly. He’s left it up in the air there, that was nothing there.”
