What Granit Xhaka Told His Arsenal Teammates After Alexandre Lacazette's Opener Against Liverpool

Granit Xhaka's unusual and angry reaction to Arsenal going 1-0 up at Anfield last night has emerged.

The Gunners took a shock lead against the champions when Andy Robertson got his clearance all wrong and allowed Alexandre Lacazette to pounce - the Frenchman's scruffy finish looping over Alisson and into the net.

Image: PA

But during the goal celebrations Arsenal vice-captain Xhaka's message to his team was a rather odd one at the time but in hindsight, given the how the game went after it, it makes sense looking back.

The Swiss international was heard saying "we are scared" twice - in a reference to how Arsenal applied themselves against Jurgen Klopp's side.

Speaking at half-time, a reporter from beIN Sports said: "We perhaps got some insight into why Arsenal couldn't hold on to their lead with what Granit Xhaka said to his teammates immediately after that Alexandre Lacazette goal.

"He ran over to the celebrations and said: 'we are scared, we are scared!' and a few of his teammates looked rather strangely at him.

"But what I think he was trying to get at was that they're scared to play their football, they're scared to go after and hustle Liverpool and really, they let them back into the game straight away."

But just when you thought there was a chance Arsenal could finally win away at a top six club in the Premier League, honours were even after Sadio Mane equalised three minutes later.

Robertson made amends for his early error when he put Liverpool in the lead before half-time, with Diogo Jota sealing a third win out of three in the new campaign after notching on his Premier League debut for the club.

Mikel Arteta was made to rue a golden chance spurned by Lacazette earlier on in the second half.

Reflecting on the defeat, the Spaniard told Sky Sports: "We took the lead in a really good pattern put us in a really strong position to believe more that we could get something out of the game.

"We conceded too early with a mistake and then in the second half, we corrected a few things, we were much better. We still have some problems with the ball but we had the best chance of the game and when it comes to Anfield, you're not going to get ten chances.

"When you get through one against one with the keeper you have to take one to get something out of the game."

Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Football, Granit Xhaka, Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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