Arsenal blocked sacked captain Granit Xhaka from releasing a statement earlier into his Crystal Palace blow-up, it has been revealed.

Switzerland international Xhaka reacted badly to Gunners fans sarcastically cheering and then booing him after he was substituted during the north London side's draw with Palace.

But an immediate response was not forthcoming from the midfielder on orders of the club, says The Times.

Instead he and the club could agree on what the statement should say.

It took four days before Xhaka, via Arsenal's media platforms, released a strongly worded response to the incident.

In which he wrote about sick social media abuse he and his family had received before calling for future unity.

Xhaka, who hasn't played since the incident, has had the Gunners armband taken off him with Unai Emery electing to make Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang his new permanent skipper.