"It makes people upset!" Wright slams Xhaka's brutal Arsenal interview

Ian Wright has criticised Granit Xhaka for his comments in the aftermath of Arsenal's damaging defeat at Newcastle on Monday night.

The Gunners saw their hopes of Champions League qualification all but vanish as they lost 2-0 at a fever-pitch St James' Park. The nervy visitors fell behind following Benjamin White's own-goal in the second half and Bruno Guimaraes secured victory for the Magpies with a late strike.

The result leaves Arsenal two points behind Tottenham and requiring a miraculous Norwich win over Spurs on the final day of the season if they are to reclaim fourth in the Premier League table. Understandably, Gunners players were disconsolate after their defeat on Tyneside, but Xhaka came out swinging in his post-match interview by taking aim at his teammates.

In his extraordinary outburst on Sky Sports, the midfielder accused his colleagues of failing to apply the tactics given to them by manager Mikel Arteta. He also declared that anyone unable to rise to the occasion and handle the pressure of the top-four race should "stay at home".

Manchester United legend Gary Neville was less than impressed by Xhaka's post-match verdict and was keen to remind him he has been a "disgrace at times" by getting sent off in recent seasons. Highbury hero Wright, meanwhile, could not understand the timing of the comments and confessed they likely only succeeded in further souring the mood.

"Seeing a player coming out and saying 'they didn't listen to the coach's instructions' is a very strange interview from Granit Xhaka," Wright told Premier League MatchDay Extra, per HITC. "I felt it's the kind of talk you want before the game. It's very easy to say afterwards because, the Tottenham game, you come out and say it then.

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"To say it now, I don't think it helps anybody. It's very magnanimous of him to come out be honest. That's the kind of talk you want in the dressing room for them to understand when you go out there, then you know what you need to do.

"Afterwards, it probably makes people upset, especially when you aren't naming names." Arsenal will need to defeat Everton at home on the final day of the season to have any chance of finishing in the top four.

Due to Tottenham's superior goal difference, a draw at Carrow Road will be enough for the Lilywhite half of North London to celebrate securing a spot in the Champions League for the first time since the 2018/19 season.