Granit Xhaka's challenge has been labelled as "ridiculous" after he conceded a penalty in Arsenal's north London derby draw against Tottenham this afternoon (Sunday).
The Arsenal skipper was penalised for a foul on Heung-min Son as Tottenham opened up a 2-0 lead at the Emirates Stadium, with Harry Kane converting from 12 yards after Martin Atkinson had pointed to the spot.
But while Kane was praised for equalling the record for the number of goals in a north London derby with ten, Xhaka was heavily criticised for his part in the goal.
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Graeme Souness did not hold back in their criticism of the Swiss international, and nor did former Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton.
“It’s a ridiculous, ridiculous challenge by Granit Xhaka," Sutton said, speaking as a commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He goes to ground and follows through. It is a stonewall penalty, and what a chance for Harry Kane.
"King Kane, emphatic. Brilliant penalty from Harry Kane, cool as you like. Wonderful penalty, and Tottenham deserve this.
“Arsenal have caused themselves problems with their defending. I don’t know what he was thinking. Why go to ground in that situation? It was daft, really daft.
“Xhaka was crackers for that penalty. It was inexcusable!”
Arsenal did fight back for a point, with goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang helping the Gunners to a 2-2 draw, but that did not stop Sutton from criticising Xhaka and his Arsenal team-mate David Luiz.
“The issue for Arsenal - and how many years have we said this - it isn't going forward, it is defensively, I thought David Luiz had a shocker and Granit Xhaka, you just can’t trust him, he is a liability in an Arsenal shirt," he said.
"That is their problem. They are devastating going forward, they have pace and power, but their issue for a long time is keeping them out at the other end. On the evidence of today, they still have problems there, but their forward line is so, so strong."
