When Arsenal took to the pitch at Crystal Palace, midfielder Granit Xhaka was once again lined up at left back. Apparently, manager Unai Emery really trusts him there, even though this confused a lot of social media users. You can’t blame them for questioning this decision, especially since the Gunners had to settle for a draw and thus see their winning streak end.
However, Xhaka also scored a goal of the year nominee, an absolute rocket!
Watch the footage below as Granit Xhaka booms this past Wayne Hennessy, a goalkeeper who has given up a lot of memorably blockbuster goals:
GRANIT XHAKA! What a strike! pic.twitter.com/QBnLCbHOrz
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 28, 2018
In addition to the 51′ Granit Xhaka scoring strike, Arsenal also got a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 56′. However, it wasn’t enough as Palace got a brace off penalty kicks from Luka Milivojevic, the very first goals scored by Palace at home this season. Obviously, this result was extremely controversial to say the least. When your score both of your goals off PKs, a lot of people are going to take issue with it.
Whether fair or unfair, Arsenal have now seen their winning streak snapped at 11, just three shy of the club’s all time record.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.