Granit Xhaka admits that Arsenal didn’t show up during their 4-0 thrashing at Anfield last Sunday.

Xhaka has pointed out the obvious and admitted that Arsenal’s 2017/18 isn’t exactly going as planned so far and their recent performance against Liverpool saw most Gunners not bother to show up.

“The start against Chelsea was good, against Leicester it was a crazy game,” Xhaka told Blick [via Metro].

“Against Stoke we were unhappy we lost, although we were clearly the better team. And yes, the Liverpool game we have to analyse critically… it was a bitter defeat. 

“It is not the start we wanted. But there are still 35 laps ahead of us.

“Against Liverpool, we didn’t show up on the pitch.

“We did a lot of wrong and could not keep up with Liverpool. There are days like that, I’d prefer they didn’t happen. But I we do lose, I’d rather lose 4-0 one that suffer four 1-0 defeats.”

Xhaka hasn’t been great so far this season. He was man of the match against Chelsea in the Community Shield but ever since, the 24-year-old has struggled with maintaining possession. In three separate games he’s given the ball away and each time has led to an opposition goal. The goal he gave away against Stoke cost the Gunners at least two points.

ozil xhaka kos
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal are Granit Xhaka of Arsenal are dejected after Liverpool’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on August 27, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The midfielder completed 72/83 passes (87%) against Liverpool and only put through one key pass, which isn’t up to his usual standard. Last season, his average pass completion rate was 90%. This season, so far, it’s 84%.

The Switzerland international isn’t Arsenal’s worst player at the moment. All of them could do with a kick up the backside and hopefully getting ribbed by their national teammates will do so. But I won’t hold my breath.

It’s all well and good the players going away and giving their media trained answers in interviews but actions speak louder yada yada.