Partey, Sokratis Leap To Under-Fire Xhaka’s Defence

Xhaka’s attempted pass in his own box went in off Chris Wood, cancelling out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener for the visitors in an eventual 1-1 draw.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach man subsequently issued a public apology for his error but some current and former players have come out in support of Xhaka ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League round of 16 encounter against Greek side Olympiacos on Thursday.

"I think he's a great player," said Partey, who joined from Atletico Madrid last summer.

"We all know he works hard for the club, he works hard for his team-mates when he's on the pitch.

"As we all know in football, you never know when you're going to have a bad day and that's part of it.

"We have to keep raising each other, keep fighting for each other and that's how we're going to have a good game and win matches.

"All the players know what we have to do when we play together. It doesn't matter who we play with, we have to do our best and win games."

Sokratis, who left Arsenal in January after two-and-a-half years in North London, will face a swift reunion with his former employers after joining Olympiacos. The Greek international also had some fond words for Xhaka.

"Granit is one of the best team-mates I've had the pleasure of working with," Sokratis told Football London.

"He's a very important player for Arsenal and I believe that he's a good player who can be a leader in the team.

"When you make one mistake everybody will go against you, but I know Granit's character. Before the Burnley game he played five or six games where he was probably the best player in the team.

"I think he's one of Arsenal's best players and certainly one of the best midfielders that I've played with."