Arsenal fans on Twitter still not over 2011 Champions league exit

Arsenal fans have had old wounds brought back up recently as ex-Barcelona star, Xavi has taken to the media to talk about the red card that Robin Van Persie picked up during their Champions League clash in 2011.

“Van Persie deserved the red card against Barcelona in CL. If you kick shoot after the referee blows the whistle, it’s a card and he was already on a yellow so he had to go.”

– Xavi pic.twitter.com/n9Ic8Frwlu

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) 30 August 2018

In the 2011 Champions League knockout stages, Arsenal were drawn to face the eventual champions, Barcelona in the round of sixteen of the tournament. The Gunners took the lead against Barcelona in the first-leg and carried a narrow 2-1 advantage into the away leg at the Nou Camp. However, with the scores at 1-1 in Catalonia, Van Persie was given a second yellow card for taking a shot after the whistle had been blown and the Gunners weren’t happy.

To this day, the fans are still frustrated by what was a shocking decision and the fact that it is being brought up over seven years later by Xavi is something that is really grinding the Arsenal fans gears. The Spain and Barcelona legend scored the goal that levelled the tie that night before Lionel Messi won it for them but the Arsenal fans will always look back on that night and wonder why it was so cruelly taken away from them by incompetent refereeing.

You can read The Gunners’ verdict on Xavi’s comments here:

https://twitter.com/ForTorreira/status/1035162585740587009

Xavi is basically a rent a quote these days

— AFCJim (@Clarky94AFC1) August 30, 2018

Absolute rubbish, I still condemn that decision, how can you get a red card for doing exactly what the sport is kicking a football

— Alex (@AJA_Styles) August 30, 2018