ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE Wenger admits Granit Xhaka is “not naturally a great tackler” after the midfielder received his second straight red card of the season in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Burnley.
Xhaka will miss Saturday’s FA Cup meeting with Southampton and the following three matches after referee Jon Moss sent him off for a two-footed tackle on Steven Defour.
Having reviewed the incident Wenger insisted there was no malice in the challenge, but admits the 24-year-old needs to work on his tackling technique.
“I’ve watched it again and it was not a dangerous tackle, it was a clumsy tackle. But you have to accept you can be punished and he has to learn from that,” Wenger told a media conference on Thursday.
I don’t think he wanted to injure anybody. Unfortunately we will lose him for four games at an important stage of the season.
“I think he’s not naturally a great tackler, [but] in his decision-making I think he’s quite intelligent on the pitch. He doesn’t master the technique of tackling.
I would encourage him not to tackle, to stay on his feet. Tackling you learn at a young age, you can improve it, but when face to face with somebody it’s better that you stay up.”
Xhaka was previously sent off during Arsenal’s 3-2 Premier League win over Swansea City in October.
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