This is who I am - Arsenal’s Xhaka after receiving a red card

Granit Xhaka

’s foul on

Diogo Jota

resulted in him receiving a red card in the clash against

, meaning he was suspended for the second leg on Thursday as well, where

were defeated at the Emirates Stadium.

The midfielder had to deal with harsh criticism, and he apologized on social media for being sent off. That was his second time this season, with the first one coming in August when he fouled on Man City’s Joao Cancelo. However, he insisted that risk-taking is part of his game.

"

It's not like I'm planning this,"

he told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview for Soccer Saturday.

"It's not like I'm doing this on purpose.

"But sometimes, I am in a position where I have to take a 50:50. It's risky, of course. Now people will say, 'Yeah, but why do you always [take] risks?'

"This is who I am. I can't change myself from today to tomorrow. Of course, I need to improve and I know I need to improve.

"But in this moment, if Jota takes the ball and he scores, they will say again, 'Why didn't you stop him?' Now, I stop him, they say, 'Why do you get the red card?'

"This is who I am. I can't change myself from today to tomorrow. Of course, I need to improve and I know I need to improve.

"But in this moment, if Jota takes the ball and he scores, they will say again, 'Why didn't you stop him?' Now, I stop him, they say, 'Why do you get the red card?'

"In the end, after the game, everyone is smarter than in the moment - myself as well. Of course, when I see it back now and say, 'Do I need to go into the duel or not?' No.

"But it is a moment, a second, where I have to make a decision and this time I made the wrong one and I feel sorry for the team, I feel sorry for the supporters, but thanks God they did an amazing job after that."

Xhaka did not have any complaints about being dismissed but he showed his frustration at the VAR use in the Premier League, especially when

was gifted a penalty during Arsenal’s 2-1 loss.

"If you if you look in slow motion, every duel, every foul looks too much,"

he said.

"[Against Manchester City], he [referee Stuart Attwell] had decided already it wasn't a penalty.

"But after, they go to VAR and check and check and check. The thing is, they are checking two pictures, three pictures, and they are not seeing all the action.

"I hope that in the future the referees can make their own decisions. Don't let the people from outside look in slow motion and stuff like this because I believe in a slow motion, everything looks harder than it is.

"In the end, they are human beings as well. They make mistakes as well. This is part of the job. Everyone makes mistakes. We have to accept decisions and look forward."

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