Granit Xhaka responds to Patrice Evra criticism that Arsenal are 'mentally weak'

Granit Xhaka has hit back at Arsenal’s critics by insisting their belief that the Gunners’ are mentally weak away from home is “bulls***”

Arsenal missed the chance to go third in the Premier League table on Monday when they were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United.

The overall performance precipitated familiar criticism of Arsenal’s mentality, with former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra – a studio visitor during Sky Sports’ live coverage of the match – describing the Gunners as “babies”

Granit Xhaka said: “We have to stop about mental bullshit like this. For me, it is the same whether you play home or away – you have to win and show big character and a good game and not to always find the same excuse.”

Addressing Evra’s comments, he added: “A lot of people they speak too much. It is not the first time he has spoken something about us. I have a lot of respect for him as he was a great player but you have to be careful what you say. But it is not only him – a lot of people speak a lot of bullshit about us. It’s always the same.

“For me it is strange as they were in the same situation as us, they were players as well. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is not always good but every week they speak bullshit like this.

“I tell you the honest truth, I’m not interested in what people say and speak. We have to speak in our group to improve things and work hard and not listen to these people.”