Lee Dixon slams ‘stupid’ Granit Xhaka for diving in Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace

Arsenal legend Lee Dixon has slammed ‘stupid’ Granit Xhaka for diving in their Premier League win over Crystal Palace on Friday night.

Xhaka was booked for simulation in the first half, throwing himself to the ground after anticipating a tackle from Joachim Andersen.

The 29-year-old Switzerland international has been handed a yellow card 53 times in the top-flight since his 2016 arrival, with 10 of those coming last season.

‘Let’s just wait until the second half and see if another yellow comes out,’ former Gunner Dixon said about Xhaka.

‘That is a dive, quite rightly booked and for a man of his experience, stupid!’

Gary Neville says Granit Xhaka will ‘always let you down at some point in the season’ and Arsenal should prepare for that eventuality.

Xhaka has been a divisive figure among the Gunners fanbase, partly due to his poor disciplinary record.

However, Xhaka has consistently been picked as a starter by every manager he’s played under at the Emirates Stadium – Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and now Mikel Arteta.

‘Even Xhaka tonight, he got booked. I always think he is going to go and let you down,’ Neville told Sky Sports.

‘He is always going to let you down at some point in the season, so you think, you should plan for that now. You know it’s coming.’

Xhaka recently hit back at pundit Neville for calling him a disgrace last season.

Neville was furious with Xhaka following Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle in the penultimate game of the 2021-22 campaign, a result which saw the Gunners surrender their advantage in the Premier League top four race.

Mikel Arteta’s fifth-place side eventually missed out on a Champions League spot for 2022-23, with north London rivals Tottenham securing fourth instead.

Xhaka came out after the loss and