Granit Xhaka needs to apologise for his angry reaction to being booed by home fans during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace Arsenal manager Unai Emery says.

The Gunners captain cupped his ear in response to booing from the stands at the Emirates stadium as he was being substituted. He then appeared to swear at the fans before taking of his jersey and storming down the tunnel.

Emery said: “Yes [he should apologise]. We make mistakes, we need to apologise and we suggested for him to do that.

“Really, he knows he was wrong and he feels inside very deep.”

It is not the first time Xhaka has been booed by his own fans this season, with Emery publicly defending the Switzerland midfielder after a game against Aston Villa last month.

That uneasy relationship with the Gunners fans did not stop Emery appointing Xhaka as club captain in September after the summer departure of Laurent Koscielny.

However, Emery has refused to confirm whether Xhaka will remain captain after Sunday’s incident.

“At the moment I am not speaking and I don’t want to think about that,” the Spaniard added.

“It is not easy for him and for the team. We spoke yesterday, and Sunday night also, and this morning.

“He trained normally with the group but he is devastated and sad about the situation.”