Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is sorry with the way social media is degenerating.

Xhaka was stripped of the club captaincy last week after a blow-up with fans last month against Crystal Palace.

On the reaction of fans on social media, Xhaka told Blick: "What began as a «bulletin board» for friends is increasingly becoming a forum for people who want to insult others. Without any consequences you can now stir up hatred against private individuals or people in the public sphere such as musicians, actors or also athletes if an opinion or a performance isn't to your liking.

"The rules of common decency and respect are obviously no longer valid for a lot of people!"

The Swiss also said, "For me, my platforms offer the chance to let my fans be a part of my athletic career and my private life, to «follow» me in the truest sense. What used to be fan mail is now much more up-to-date and closer to life due to Instagram and all the rest. I think that's really great.

"But this opportunity is also a double-edged sword, as I have now learned. There really are people who make a hobby out of insulting people every day. This even goes so far as to be criticised for things you haven't even done. People are abusing me because of the way I played last weekend, but I wasn't even on the pitch. It's insane!"