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Arsenal news: Glenn Hoddle singles out two players vs Sporting - ‘It’s been awful’
ARSENAL stars Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding felt the wrath of Glenn Hoddle this evening.
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Xhaka and Holding started for Arsenal in their Europa League clash away to Sporting Lisbon.
Unai Emery's side were looking for an 11th straight win in all competitions.
Xhaka was playing in an unfamiliar left-back role that Hoddle before the game said he could make his own.
The Gunners struggled to make many clear-cut opportunities in the first half in Lisbon and the hosts had the better chances.
Certainly defensively some of the defending has been decent, but some of it’s been awful
Head coach Emery prides himself on his defenders playing out from the back but on a couple of occasions it did not work out.
Xhaka looked for a cross-field to a team-mate pass from his left-back position but inexplicably sent the ball out for a corner instead.
And Holding gifted former Manchester United winger Nani with a chance with a slack ball out from the back.
And Hoddle was not impressed with those two moments when analysing at half time.
“It’s an in-between performance with the ball and without the ball,” the former England manager said of Arsenal on BT Sport.
“They’ve not really created enough with the ball, which we were saying they can do this season.
“And certainly defensively some of the defending has been decent, but some of it’s been awful.
“They’ve put pressure on themselves.
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“This is poor technique from Xhaka, goes with the outside of the left foot and puts pressure on themselves again giving a corner away.
“This is awful play from Holding, he’s had a decent game defensively in the air.
"But that against better opposition maybe you’re punished.”