Arsenal are ready to offer Granit Xhaka counselling because of fears over his state of mind after confrontations with the team’s supporters.

The Arsenal captain was jeered when he was taken off during the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and reacted by swearing at the fans before removing his shirt and walking straight down the tunnel. Up to yesterday, Xhaka had refused a request from Unai Emery, his head coach, to apologise to Arsenal fans by putting his name to a club statement.

Xhaka has changed his display photo on Instagram from a picture of him as Arsenal captain to one of him wearing the armband for Switzerland

Emery refused to say whether the midfielder, 27, would be stripped of the captaincy or fined the standard penalty of two weeks’ wages for indiscipline, which would cost Xhaka £200,000. Instead, Emery asked that his player