Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka has hit back at Gunners' fans over their reaction to him that led to him being stripped of the captaincy of the club.
The midfielder was replace in the second half of the Premier League match against Crystal Palace last month, he left the field to jeers from his own supporters, and reacted angrily by swearing at them, putting his hands behind his ears and taking off his shirt before making his way down the tunnel at the Emirates Stadium.
The Swiss international has since been replaced as captain of the club by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and is yet to play another minute in an Arsenal shirt after being taken out of the limelight by manager Unai Emery.
Xhaka released a statement explaining his actions after the incident, but has now spoken more in depth for the first time in his home nation, where he has spoken about the reaction of the Arsenal fans.
"When my shirt number lit up on the board of the fourth official and then broke jealous jubilation of their own fans, that hit me very much and stirred up," Xhaka told Swiss newspaper Blick (via the Mirror ).
"It was very painful and frustrating.
"For me, this reaction is still incomprehensible, especially in this vehemence and how extremely hostile I was here.
"Since I can remember, the fans are an integral part of my sport.
"And I have a lot of respect from the beginning for the commitment and hardships fans take to help us players.
"Justifiable criticism of them makes you grow as an athlete.
"And the power and energy that they put into the game makes every athlete love football even more. I feel like part of a big football family.
"But when you get scolded by this very footballing family in times when you are already being attacked massively, it hurts a lot.
"By that I do not mean that I can not stand criticism. If I and the team do not play well, we have to listen to it and work on it.
"But if you offend and insult your own captain, bring restlessness and bad mood into the team you actually support.
"That makes no sense to me and weakens the cohesion."
