Xhaka apologises as Carragher calls on club to axe the Swiss following latest red

Just 24 minutes in at Anfield, the Swiss was dealt his marching orders for a clumsy challenge on Diogo Jota, kicking the Portuguese in the chest as he raced clean through on goal.

It was his second sending off in just 13 appearances this season and his fifth since joining the Gunners in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach for £30million.

Arsenal, however, actually looked more resolute without the player in midfield and were easily able to keep Liverpool at bay with a man less for more than 60 minutes as they earned a deserved 0-0 draw away from home.

The 29-year-old has now issued a public apology to Arsenal fans for his dismissal.

"I want to apologise to everyone," Xhaka wrote on Instagram. "I am so proud of my team and the spirit that they showed to keep a clean sheet tonight."

Xhaka's red will rule him out of Sunday's crucial north London derby with Tottenham in what is another huge blow for Arteta, who is already suffering a crisis in midfield.

And Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher admitted the time might be right for the club to get rid of the Swiss following his latest moment of madness at Anfield, labelling him a 'massive problem' for the club.

"The thing with Xhaka is we've said before the game that every manager picks him, he is a good character, a good trainer, a good lad, he is a good player, we've seen that in a Switzerland shirt and at times in an Arsenal shirt as well," Carragher said on Sky Sports.

"But he is a liability in terms of that tonight. We can talk about how great Arsenal were, they were fantastic but more often than not you go down to ten men at Anfield you don't just lose the game, you'll be out the competition.

"Really, Liverpool in a situation like that should be looking to win the game two or three nil. That comes down to Arsenal having ten men and it happens too often.

"We spoke about how well Arsenal played against Manchester City but that was Xhaka again and it just happens too much now.

"He's not even a young lad where you think ok he'll learn with experience, he's one of your experienced guys.

"That's the one thing that keeps stopping Arsenal making that next step right now because I'm so impressed with Mikel Arteta and his young team this season.

"These experienced players in that team, he's the one letting the young players down, it's normally the other way round.

"That is a massive problem for Arsenal going forward because he's never going to change now. He's played nearly 250 games for Arsenal. That is position and a player they have to move on."