Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva does not believe Mikel Arteta will drop Granit Xhaka for the north London derby this weekend.
The midfielder came in for criticism for his role in the goal the Gunners conceded against Burnley last weekend.
With Arsenal 1-0 up at Turf Moor and looking rather comfortable, Xhaka received the ball from Bernd Leno in his own penalty box and attempted to switch the ball out to his right-hand side in the direction of David Luiz.
However, the Switzerland international did not get enough on his attempted pass and could only watch on in horror as the ball cannoned against Chris Wood's hip and into the back of Leno's net.
Arteta kept faith in Xhaka for Thursday's 3-1 Europa League win over Olympiacos and former Gunners midfielder Gilberto thinks the 28-year-old's leadership means he is likely to keep his place for the visit of Spurs.
"I’m not so sure he’s going to do this. Of course the mistake from Xhaka in the last game against Burnley cost a lot, two points. It would have been much better for them if they’d won the last game against Burnley, but they have to move on," Gilberto said on the Invisible Wall podcast when asked if Arteta will drop Xhaka this weekend.
"Because you’re going to look back to the past and just complain about mistakes you have made - that’s pointless. You have to just move forward.
"What’s the next step?
"Unless he feels that he’s not confident enough to play this game. But I don’t really believe this. Xhaka, from the times that I have watched him, looks like a guy who has got confidence and accepts when he’s made a mistake.
"He takes the responsibility. This is very important. As long as you take the responsibility. Go to the next game and do things in the best way.
"Looking from the outside he is considered to be one of the main leaders of this squad. I am not really sure if there is the possibility of Arteta dropping him, but you never know.
"His personality helps to overcome when the problems come to him, when he’s made a mistake, he needs to act, to move forward and work it out. I hope that if he plays he can do a good job.
"Despite the fact that he made a mistake, I’m not going to kill the guy because of it. With his experience, he just needs to make sure this mistake is over, because Arsenal need him to be strong.
"They need his leadership on the field to help the other players.
"If I could say something to him: be confident. You are at a club where everyone supports you and just go for it. Put the mistakes behind you and move forward and help Arsenal."
