We can work to improve, learn new skills, get faster, stronger or more knowledgeable but we can never change what’s deep inside. Such is Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka – he will never change his style of play. He’ll continue to tackle the opponents even if it means more red cards.”Sometimes, I am in a position where I have to take a 50:50 duel. It’s risky, of course. Now people will say, ‘Yeah, but why do you always take risks? This is who I am. I can’t change myself from today to tomorrow. Of course, I need to improve and I know I need to improve.””This is who I am – I can’t change myself.” Granit Xhaka insists he won’t change the way he plays despite receiving the fifth red card of his Arsenal career in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against #LFC last week. 🟥 pic.twitter.com/llqcl0Ku8N— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 22, 2022 Every team needs a hard man in the midfield to deal with the opposition and add protect his defenders from constant attacks. But it’s not a job in which all you do is rough people up. Sometimes it’s about making the right decision in the heat of the battle.”In the end, after the game, everyone is smarter than in the moment – myself as well. But it is a moment, a second, where I have to make a decision and this time, I made the wrong one and I feel sorry for the team, I feel sorry for the supporters.”Granit Xhaka: “We had a very, very bad start [to the season], but how we came back, how we believe in ourselves & how we believe in the philosophy of Mikel, is amazing. Mikel is a freak but a freak in a positive way. He sees football with different eyes & in different ways.” #afc pic.twitter.com/I9EGEvZfi8— afcstuff (@afcstuff) January 23, 2022 Mikel Arteta’s team will certainly need some of Xhaka’s steel when Burnley, one of the league’s most physical teams arrive to Emirates. But Xhaka won’t be able to help the Spaniard because he’s suspended – just like fellow midfielder Thomas Partey, who’s also been sent off in his team’s EFL Cup defeat to Liverpool.Burnley have problems of their own. There is still uncertainty over which players might be available for the match, having not played since the FA Cup defeat to Huddersfield two weeks ago following a Covid-19 outbreak and with only 16 players taking part in training on Friday.PREMIER LEAGUE – ROUND 23FridayWatford – Norwich 0-3 (0-0)/Sargent 51, 74, Kucka 90+2 og/SaturdayEverton – Aston Villa 0-1 (0-1)/Buendia 45+3/Manchester United – West Ham United 1-0 (0-0)/Rashford 90+3/Leeds United – Newcastle United 0-1 (0-0)/Shelvey 75/Brentford – Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 (0-0)/Toney 71 – Moutinho 48, Semedo 78/Southampton – Manchester City 1-1 (1-0)/Walker-Peters 7 – Laporte 65/Sunday17:00: (2.65) Leicester (3.25) Brighton (2.90)17:00: (1.37) Arsenal (5.10) Burnley (10.0)17:00: (6.25) Crystal Palace (3.90) Liverpool (1.63)19:30: (1.75) Chelsea (3.70) Tottenham (5.40)***odds are subject to change
