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Football

23rd Jun 2018

Arsenal fans loved what Stephan Lichtsteiner did to Breel Embolo late on in Swiss win

They can look forward to seeing this at the Emirates next season

Darragh Murphy

Arsenal manager Unai Emery made no secret of the reason he decided to make Stephan Lichtsteiner his first signing at the Emirates.

Lichtsteiner joined the Gunners on a free transfer earlier this month and Emery immediately made it clear why he felt the Swiss right-back was so suited to his new side.

“Stephan brings huge experience and leadership to our squad. He’s a player with great quality with a very positive and determined attitude. Stephan will improve us on and off the pitch,” Emery said of the move.

Lichtsteiner’s experience and leadership was on full display on Friday night, when Switzerland claimed a dramatic late victory over Serbia in their World Cup Group E clash.

Xherdan Shaqiri had just slotted home a 90th-minute winner, following on from Granit Xhaka’s stunning strike which came shortly after half-time, and Switzerland were suddenly looking good for a spot in the knockout stages.

Switzerland continued to attack after Shaqiri found the net, which is a strategy that didn’t sit well with the veteran, Lichtsteiner.

Lichtsteiner, who is the fourth-most capped player in Switzerland history, has been around the block and was furious to see his younger teammates continue to look for scoring opportunities in the dying moments.

The full-back gave substitute Breel Embolo one hell of an earful in the final minute for deciding against taking the ball to the corner in order to see out the result.

Arsenal supporters were thrilled to see such composure as they insisted that it was a trait that the Gunners have been missing in recent years.

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