Emery unites fans with desperately meek decision

by .

He did it, he totally did it. Unai Emery finally bit down on the bullet he’s been hiding from for 3 months and made Granit Xhaka his captain.

What a joke. Arsenal fans, for once, unanimous in condemning the decision as calamitous.

What made the whole debacle even crazier is the charade around the decision.

Where are the 5 captains? Not that I believe in that method, but it’s indecisive to tell the world you’re delaying your 5, then you deliver a huge pivot.

Secondly, why leak to the press you’re running a vote? I’ll tell you why, he’s sharing the wrath of the fans with the players. He bottled making a decision on his own because he knew it’d go down like soiled nappy to the face, so he’s co-sharing the calamity. It’s as transparent as a Boris Johnson political strategy. Meeker than inviting your wife’s side piece  over for Christmas dinner.

Unai Emery is a poor leader. This decision will be the death of him. The moment is symbolic because it perfectly captures the essence of his tenure. Confused, indecisive and bland.

Granit Xhaka is a poor choice. This move has been made purely on the basis that he’s popular in the dressing room. That’s amateur hour selection criteria. Arsenal football club is not in a situation where we can be making decisions based on likability. Don’t give me ‘there are no leaders’ because if that’s the case, why was it not a top priority this summer? Did Raul and Edu sign this off?

A leader has be able to command respect with performances as an absolute basic. Xhaka is not a steady player. He is an error machine. He is a one-trick pony. He’s a delicate orchid that needs perfect conditions to perform. Even when the weather systems align with the soil PH, he is still always a moment away from letting off a mistake grenade under no pressure. He has so many limitations, he’s become a tactical opportunity more ripe for the picking than the short goal kicks.  Not even for good teams, I’m talking Watford. Just pressure him and wait for him to break. Sometimes you don’t even need to pressure him. His off the ball work is bad enough to gift you opportunities.

The clear learning from the weekend, when we were overrun by Aston Villa, was that our best midfield does not include him. The Premier League demands power, pace, and high levels of concentration from a midfielder. Xhaka has been a clear weakness for us and now he will be an automatic starter for the rest of the season.

Bigger picture, my problem is this.

The club is trying to build a high-performance culture. That is a Huss Fahmy thing from Team Sky. It is the creation of a perfectly timed Swiss watch. If there is a single cog, anywhere in the machine, that is even slightly off… it doesn’t keep time. At the centre of our high performance culture is a player that the fans boo at half time for good reason. This decision is not a serious one. It runs counter to the clubs longterm aspirations. It sets an incredibly bad tone to the rest of the club.

Defective cogs impact the whole machine. They pollute the culture. They make perfectly good parts of the machine underperform. I simply cannot believe the exec team at Arsenal does not see this.

I can’t blame the players. Who’d pick someone that’d give them a rough ride? They’ve picked comfort, which is exactly the mindset I thought we were moving away from.

If Holding, Hector, and Matteo weren’t ready, give it to someone inoffensive but elite, like Auba. I would even take Luiz over Xhaka, at least he has pedigree at the highest level. There is no excuse for this. It’s not a future-facing decision. It doesn’t help with leadership. It fucks us tactically. It sours the mood of fans who won’t accept it. It is a damaging blow to Emery’s already sagging credibility with the fans.

What a disappointing turn, but I repeat, not unexpected.

Listen to my podcast.

331 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
GillespieRoadNoMore

Trophy?

GillespieRoadNoMore

Back of the Net!

GillespieRoadNoMore

Xhaka is a tactical liability of the 1st Order – most definitely not Captain Material

GillespieRoadNoMore

Where is everyone?

Jamie

Top content today. Nodded along all the way.

GillespieRoadNoMore

Where is Lady Hale declaring the appointment of Xhaka unlawful? Let’s just hope Granit suffers some kind of training ground injury of the long term kind, either that or he goes partying with Mesut and Kola and crosses the wrong person.

grooveydaddy

Spot on, Pedders

Mark S

If there is a positive, it is that our players that become Captain usually only last a year!

bennydevito

Xhaka as captain is an absolute joke! Shouldn’t even be on the bench let alone starting and as captain ffs! You just know he will start at OT on Monday as too will Kolasinac and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him throw Ozil in too. We’ll never have a better chance of winning at OT in recent years but Emery will pick the wankers and fuck the lineup right up.

grooveydaddy

Hope our recent ‘Captain’s Curze’ strikes soon (preferably before Monday)

DivineSherlock

Totally Bullshit decision but I have to wonder what Freddie’s input were . I don’t think he wouldve been onboard with this.

DigitalBob

Emerys really made a mistake with this one imo. As Pedro’s said he’s arguably our worst midfielder so why make it hard to drop him by giving him the captaincy?

Auba or Laca would have been the best fit but maybe they don’t relish collecting fines for lateness like some fucking sixth form prefect so Unai though no thanks.

Demo

I’m confused as to why the players would vote him. Really confused. The only thing I can think is, according to Rob Holding, the vote took place a few weeks ago, maybe before his calamitous pen giveaway v Spuds.

In that case it’s not entirely fair as Bellerín and Holding were slightly out of sight.

We should demand a second vote! #XHEXIT

Thomas

Emery sacked yet?

Rambo Ramsey

The whole concept of ‘Captain’ in a grown-man sport is an embarrassment.

TheLegendaryDB10

Absolutely shambolic decision by UE. I really can’t believe he doesn’t know the basics. When Pedro said: A leader has be able to command respect with performances as an absolute basic. is absolutely spot on. How are the players supposed to look up to someone in dire times when your captain has no character to influence a football game. Have you ever seen Xhaka standout? (Well apart from when he fucks up ofc.) No, me neither. Players like Scholes, Keane, Viera or Inzaghi, or even like Drogba (in his final season at Marseilles where he litterally carried the whole team… Read more »

jwl

Joke Friday –

What does the sign on an out-of-business brothel say?

Beat it. We’re closed.

jwl

What’s the difference between a tire and 365 used condoms?

One’s a Goodyear. The other’s a great year.

jwl

What’s the best part about gardening?

Getting down and dirty with your hoes.

jwl

What do a woman and a bar have in common?

Liquor in the front, poker in the back.

Spanishdave

Emery doesn’t want to drop Xhaka, now he has created a situation where he can say he is the captain so he must play no matter what.

Boomslang

Why did the astronaut refuse to come home to his wife?

Because he needed more space.

Champagne charlie

Pedro

Somewhat surprised you’d take such a view, would you be waxing lyrical if he’d have handed the armband to Auba (or someone “worthy”)? Obviously not, because it’s an irrelevance being drummed up to the high heaven.

Who was chosen means little, how they were chosen is telling. That’s my take on the whole thing, Emery passed the buck big time. Leader he is not, irony a plenty.

Also there’s no “moment” where Emery put a nail in his own coffin, he’s been slowly carving and varnishing the lot since day one. Don’t pretend otherwise.

PK

You just need to look at his previous attempt at appointing a captain to see how inept he is….

Cech……gone within a year
Monreal…..gone within a year despite Emery wanting him to stay.
Kos…..gone within a year after a fallout with Emery
Ramsey……gone within 6 months
Ozil…..has hardly played and now not fit enough to last 90 minutes in a second eleven cup tie

To quote Boris , utter Humbug

Distant legrover

The real surprise for me is that Holding wasn’t picked among the captains. He is in my opinion the best fit based on his personality, the fact that hes a solid player, he will probably start most games, abd the fact that hes 24 which means he can really grow into that role. I get the John Terry vibe from him without the misogyny. I also don’t get the Ozil and Bellerin picks. There s nothing captainy about Bellerin nothing and don’t get me started on sulking never present Ozil. As for Xhaka, always had a mixed feeling towards him.… Read more »

Freddie Ljungberg

interview with emery: First he’s mature. He has experience. We are living every time under pressure, under criticism, as a coach, as a player, as a club. But really the most important thing is to stand up each moment, go ahead with his qualities, with his behaviour, with his commitment. “In the dressing room the players voted him as the first leadership. I know, I spoke with him, we want to change that opinion outside. That respect he has inside is very, very important. Also show outside, keep moving ahead, playing, improving, behaviour, commitment. Each match is for him, for… Read more »

Rambo Ramsey

Holding has a great personality? Why cause he shoved a Stoke player into a dashboard one time?

Holding is a solid player? When and how did this happen?

Absolute rubbish.

Distant legrover

Also I m happy none of Auba, Laca, weren’t picked as the captain. I think selecting strikers as captains negates their striking powers and serves as a distraction. Plus of course the Arsenal captain curse that’s going around. Don’t want either of those leaving next year.

raptora

CC, Henderson is part of Pool’s starting 11, yes or no? Did they win UCL and had a phenomenal EPL season? Henderson is tough as nails and willing to put his head where Xhaka wouldn’t put his foot. How could you even compare him to that snail of a footballer?CC: “He’s stuck to his guns and was given the armband for reasons NOT related to his football ability as they have numerous players better suited in that respect.”Do tell me who is more suited to be Liverpool captain but Henderson other than Milner who has been a Pool player for… Read more »

Rambo Ramsey

“But the most important thing is to analyse, to learn and correct those mistakes.”

Yeah Unai, Granit fvcking Xhaka has proven most capable of not repeating mistakes.

Dumb cvnt of a manager.

raptora

Wright, Keown, Merson, Neville, Nicholas have all slammed Xhaka for being a liability and making schoolboy errors.

Yet Emery basically names him the most respected player in this team.

Mind you it’s the guy that indirectly flamed our attack for not scoring more than 2 vs Spuds. Mind you it’s the guy that said that “we got scared by Watford”. If this is the type of interviews he’s gonna give… Please…

Marko

Jordan Henderson despite what some might say is an excellent captain. Leaves everything on the field and is quite consistent hence being a starter for Liverpool under Klopp.

raptora

As a matter of fact I have no problems to have not the best player in the team as a captain but one that is a consistently good performer. Nothing wrong with being a 7.5 player game in game out. Sagna was that type of player. Gilberto Silva also. Ray Parlour.

Our newly named captain though has games where he is 8, then 4, then 6, then 5 then 7, then 7, then 4…

Horrible choice and absolutely indefensible.

Chris

Hopefully the curse of the Arsenal captaincy of recent past rears its head again, and he hardly plays. However the route to this decision, and it has been poor all round, our midfield will continue to suffer with Xhaka’s continual inclusion in the side. If we are struggling really badly for a captaincy choice then the ‘lead by example’ path would have been preferable for me and that could have been either Lacazette or Aubameyang, the latter especially. There’s not much more that can be said really otherwise. The decision has been made, and quite simply it is a poor… Read more »

Gentlebris

So Henderson lost his team the match how many times?

Henderson insulted Mane or Sallah in the public how many fucking times?!

Xhaka single-handedly made sure we missed CL by following an opposition player into our box and brought him down the moment he entered our box, even when the said guy was heading no where.
How many times did Henderson ruin his team like this?

Dull brain farting loudly on the internet.

Cork City Gooner

Poor decision from Emery ,really poor,,Xhaka is a clown who needs to be shipped on in January,He’s starting at Man utd on monday then,,laughable appointment of Captain,im really dissapointed with this

Valentin

I don’t get the furore in Xhaka getting the captaincy. A few years ago, Gallas was our captain! In most case the Captain is irrelevant. Hugo Lloris is Spurs captain, I am pretty sure that nobody listen to him on the pitch. Anybody really think I that Hugo Lloris is the kind of Braveheart type of Captain? I am more worried about the fact that Xhaka will start most game rather than him getting the captaincy. A few years ago, Kopite were asking for Henderson head. He was viewed as not good enough to play even less start for Liverpool.… Read more »

Bob N16

For me the issue of who’s captain is quite minor however it is a major issue if whoever is captain automatically plays and they’re shit. If Xhaka is not guaranteed a starting position then I don’t think it matters much.

Having an outstanding captain is clearly beneficial but if you don’t have one, as long as you have a squad with the right mentality, I don’t think it matters that much.

Chris

Valentin

I think the concern is that by being captain, Xhaka will be paying most of the games and therefore limiting our midfield.

If this decision does result in Xhaka improving then great, but is is hard to imagine.

Graham62

There are several things that have come out of these past few days. 1. We are as rudderless as ever. 2. Emery clearly does not understand anything about the environment he finds himself in. 3. He has disrespected us all. 4. Whatever support he had amongst the fanbase has evaporated. 5. His decision making ability is nothing short of shambolic. 6. He has allowed the players to take control, in more ways than one. 7. He has opened a massive can of worms. 8. The timing of all of this is just magnificent. Three days before we play MU and… Read more »

raptora

Yeah, captaincy maybe doesn’t matter as much as it did back in the day. But Emery delayed this decision for months. He might as well made a better choice. But I guess I’m asking too much of him. Like why did he even delay the decision? Kos was a goner months ago, name Nacho and Xhaka if you must. Then Nacho leaves and Xhaka becomes the first captain. Drama would have been much less than it is at the moment. Cause Emery gave himself time to make the right decision and in the end he still bottled it.

Receding Hairline

“3. He has disrespected us all.”

Get a grip

Receding Hairline

“9. Xhaka is being hung out to dry and the consequences could be catastrophic.”

Nothing new is being asked of him, he is still going to be required to do his job on the pitch like the rest of the 10 players

The captain does not dictate how we play or pick himself for games. Xhaka has not been named head coach of AFC.

This overblown reaction to who wears an armband is ridiculous

His team mates voted for him as their captain, the coach endorsed that. Let them carry on with their jobs.

Champagne charlie

Raptora Chuck your toys about over a captains armband all you like mate. Henderson was mentioned to refute the idea all captains are the talisman of the side, he clearly isn’t and the role isn’t cookie cutter. Only a few years back he was getting absolute dogs abuse for being a shower of shit. Pretty clear and obvious parallels I drew up, but you want to chat about him NOW having worked past all that? Switched right on you are. I forgot picking Xhaka to wear the armband stopped the inevitable title tilt that would come with it being on… Read more »

Graham62

BobN16

Good afternoon.

As you well know, this goes far deeper than “the issue of who’s captain”.

What we have seen here is our manager make a monumental clanger of a judgement call.

He knows that Xhaka is not a fans favourite. He sees that Xhaka is quite often, a massive liability. He allows an already farcical state of affairs, to get even further out of hand.

He has infact done what Wenger consistently did over the past decade.

He has made us a laughing stock.

EdTheRed

Is Xhaka more likely to play because he is wearing the armband?“The performance is giving me the next first XI, the next players to play, not the captains.”

———-

Calm down everyone.

Valentin

Against ManUtd, it will depends on who scores first. If we score first, ManUtd will lose, because they are now a counter-attacking team. Having to dominate and create opportunities against a low bloc defense is something that they currently don’t seem to be able to do. We can then end-up winning 3-1. I see us conceding late in the game. If ManUtd score first, then I can see us being rudderless for the rest of the game. A 1-0 loss with no shot on target in the last 20 minutes. Of course, Emery could repeat the same trick than against… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“He has made us a laughing stock.” Nah you are doing that to yourself He is already not a popular coach with the fan base, his style of football or lack of a style has caused concerns from day one, last seasons collapse has hung heavily in the air, most do not agree with his match day selections etc Who he decides to give the armband does not make any of the above go away. Would it be better if say Holding is named Captain but Emery keeps picking Xhaka regardless? He has nailed his mast to Xhaka as a… Read more »

Champagne charlie

Gentlebris

Took 8 seconds and a “Henderson booed” google search for the inevitable links to follow:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/talksport.com/football/429481/liverpool-jordan-henderson-reaction-fan-napoli/amp/

https://radioenrg.net/is-henderson-unappreciated-by-his-own-supporters/

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/many-liverpool-fans-problem-jordan-13594503.amp

Could replace “Henderson” with “Xhaka” and write the same articles. Fans getting their panties in a bunch over total non-events, and overlooking the important topics.

They had Klopp working on something of substance in the background, we have Emery trying to read a roadmap over his specs in the era of google maps. There’s issues at Arsenal, who wears an armband ain’t one of them, neither is picking an XI unless you grossly dismiss the relevance of a manager.

Gentlebris

I don’t believe the boys voted for Xhaka. I think Unai created a charade, leaked it to the press and quickly jumped behind the charade.

But then eventually Xhaka will be dropped. The fans are alive to Xhaka now, he will eventually be done to the beach by being booed very consistently….. after that, Auba will always be the captain on the pitch and that’s all I care about. Xhaka can captain the locker room who cares!

Pierre

RH
You should know by now that Graham has a tendency to be over dramatic…

For the last year he and the other geriatric goon ( Tony)have been on my back consistently for my views on Emery .

Strangely enough , just about everything he/they say now are identical to mine .

The captaincy is irrelevant , what is more important is setting the team up in the correct formation v United….no diamond .

Has to be 4-2-3-1 preferable as the team look more comfortable in that system or 4-3-3..

Major_Jeneral

Good post Pedro.

Not a good decision from the UE but we move on. It is only a matter of time before this decision impacts performance on the team in a very horrific way. We wait.

When do we play ManCity pls?

raptora

CC: “if you think this has any relevance to whether or not Emery was going to continue to play Xhaka you’re comically naive.” So you think that if Emery wanted to drop Xhaka out of the starting 11, what 99.9% of the Arsenal fanbase has been craving for years, it would literally make no sense if he makes him a captain or he doesn’t make him a captain? So him naming Xhaka our captain gives us zero idea if he’s going to rely on him or not? I am naive thinking that a captain USUALLY plays in every single important… Read more »

salpardisenyc

No question the process in selecting new captain was banter, for whatever reason it was made public. One would guess he wanted to ease pressure on Xhaka, easier to swallow for supporters if squad elected him. In the end does it matter, not so much for me. Xhaka is definitely in Emery’s plans captaining or not. Unai’s weakest link has to be the basic’s of figuring out what works with what he has and sticking with it. Problem lies with fanbase already a hair trigger with results at this early stage of season, Xhaka going to feel brunt of that… Read more »

Graham62

Receding

You,like a few others on here, are very naive.

“Irrelevant”……. Really?

The blasé supporters show their true colours once again.

The consequences of this could be massive.

Very interesting day on here.

Gentlebris

Well CC I have checked out your glorious links and none suggests that Henderson became captain few days after being booed by Liverpool fans in a home game.

In fact the links only discuss Henderson being unappreciated as captain by Liverpool fans.

Graham62

raptora

Forget Emery needing an interpreter.

I need an interpreter to decipher what some posters on here are on about.

Receding Hairline

“The consequences of this could be massive.”

Of course, that’s our title challenge dead on arrival, that’s the fans spending the game booing the man with a cloth tied around his arms not because he is having a bad game but because they disagree with him wearing a band (a band he has worn all season by the way)

That is us losing three points after winning a game because the FA disagrees with Xhaka as captain…what next? Point deductions??

Massive indeed

Graham62

Major_Jeneral

This decision has already “impacted the team”.

Mark my words.

Bob N16

Graham, if you’re saying that allowing Xhaka to be selected as Captain is symptomatic of Emery’s lack of judgement, okay. Not sure I would go as far as that the decision is insulting to the supporters. In some respects it was a sensible move to make the players decide, letting the fan base know that Xhaka was their choice not his.

Emery will be judged on his coaching/ selections not on who is the club captain. If Xhaka continues to be selected and our midfield malfunctions because of it, Emery will rightly be criticised.

Having a bad day Graham?

Gentlebris

Then can you imagine who voted for Ozil as captain?
Maybe Kola and Guen but I doubt it.

I think Emery threw Ozil in the mix for effect. Every dog is aware that Ozil and Emery are not best pals, so it would appear to the public that the voting thing is indeed genuine.

Champagne charlie

Raptora What are you talking about? I said the captains armband had no bearing on the fact Emery sees Xhaka as a feature of his first XI. So the faux outrage about him being captain, and therefore in the side, is bogus. He was always a pivotal player under Emery. Gentlebris You’ll have to point out where I made any reference to Henderson being booed and then days later becoming captain. Moving goalposts is what that’s called. I said there’s parallels between Henderson getting dogs abuse and being club captain, as there is with Xhaka. That the armband doesn’t always… Read more »

Pierre

I would say the misuse of Ozil has had a bigger impact in the way the team plays than the playing of Xhaka. Until we learn when to take risks with the ball and when to take care of the ball , then whether its xhaka or whoever in midfield, it wont make a blind bit of difference . At the moment, If Ozil isn’t playing ,its a case of whenever we have a chance to attack ,its all or nothing ( usually nothing) and the ball is turned over too quickly and we lose possession so consequently our defence… Read more »

Redtruth

Bob N16

You’re not seriously suggesting Xhaka’s place in the team will be anything other than a liability.

raptora

RH and CC in unison for once. Too bad it’s RH jumping the wrong ship and not vice versa. Been pro Emery since day 1. He’s managed to evaporate my optimism into pessimism with decisions like the one today. You have to ruffle some feathers in order to get results. If you are friends with everyone, you are friends with no one. It takes tough decisions to show leadership qualities as a manager. You cannot take 3 months to name the last player in the list of leaders any Arsenal fan would give as your first captain. Players like Auba,… Read more »

Graham62

BobN16

Not at all Bob.

Ah yes, that’s right, I forgot, the players chose Xhaka.

Makes me feel so much better knowing the likes of Ozil/ Mustafi/ AMN etc are the ones choosing our captain.

Do you think Emery will pick Xhaka for Monday night?

Of course he will.

Can’t wait for that first mistake to arrive. You just know it will.

Well done Unai, thanks for putting the team first.

Wasi

Xhaka has been made captain. Lets hope he does not get booed at for at least the next 4-5 games. Give him time lets see how we takes it . Pretty sure he’s just gonna be his old self. But lets just give him a chance. I hate to say it but its happened weve got to get on with it.Its Emery and his curious decision making or lack of. What is Emery doing with Ozil. He drops him , subs him then includes him in the captaincy group. After clearly stating he wanted an English presence in the group… Read more »

Dissenter

Is Xhaka more likely to play more often because he is the club captain?

If the answer is yes, then the captain-ship does matter.

If there as such an item as non-paying captain, like in golf then count me in…name Xhaka eternal kapitan, I wouldn’t give a hoot.

azed

I can’t believe folks are getting pissed at Xhaka being captain because “it means he would start”….

News flash guys Xhaka would start for Emery whether he is captain or not.

Graham62

Ok, let’s have a vote.

How many of you think that Xhaka will play against MU?

When, not IF, his first mistake arrives, what will be the consequences for him/the team/Emery/ supporters?

Difficult questions I know.

Have a go anyway.

salpardisenyc

Wished we signed Ødegaard, safe to say he’s settled in La Liga created 10 chances yesterday. Mental.

Modric going to have to find a new club next season.

Champagne charlie

Raptora

For a guy that polished Emery’s shaft you’re ever so nonchalant in claiming what’s ‘right or wrong’.

I said I’d have chosen Laca as captain, but I’m stating quite clearly that I don’t care who the armband went to and I’m more critical of the manner it was chosen.

If you want to stamp your feet about Xhaka be my guest, knock up Ishola because I’m sure the pair of you will have a fantastic time.

Wasi

In the team photo the first 4 caps are closest to Unai . But Holding is sitting closer to Emery than Ozil. Bonkers. Whats going on with the club?

jwl

I reckon Xhaka was chosen captain by rest of squad because he most senior player that plays regularly. All other players who have chance at captaincy are new players with no stature, Xhaka is default. I think Auba or Torr should be captain but my opinion means nowt.

Redtruth

Pierre
“I would say the misuse of Ozil has had a bigger impact in the way the team plays than the playing of Xhaka.”

Ozil is better suited to toilet cleaning duties rather than first team football.

NJ Gunner

Let’s hope that this is a perverse strategy by Edu to bolster Xhaka’s reputation so that we can sell him for a larger amount in January or the summer.

Redtruth

The Team chose Xhaka because they are a bunch of losers..

raptora

There were reports that the Arsenal camp is divided. It’s highly speculative to claim who would be with who but I will try regardless. The two obvious camps for me would be: 1. French speaking players – Lacazette, Auba, Guen, Pepe 2. Germans + Eastern Europeans – Xhaka, Ozil, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Leno, Sokratis, Mavropanos No idea in which camp would Luiz, Torreira, Ceballos, Martinelli be. Or the brits in Holding, Chambers, AMN, Tierney, Willock, Smith-Rowe, Nelson and we could add Bellerin in there as a 99% a London boy. Our French speaking players are by far the best players in… Read more »

salpardisenyc

Bellerin future captain for me, if that took affect in January i’d be pleased.

raptora

CC,
I’d rather state what I see as it changes in front of my eyes, than be a contrarian just for the sake of being different with no quality arguments in place. You do you though.

Dissenter

azed
“News flash guys Xhaka would start for Emery whether he is captain or not.”

Not disputing this but is he more likely to start, now that he is captain?

I believe you’re evading this little question because the answer is obviously yes.

Marko

Graham you’re so very extreme in everything you write like an hysterical woman sometimes

azed

Dissenter

Xhaka being captain has not improved his chances of starting. Can you actually remember a time when Xhaka was fit and he did not start?

Redtruth

It’s a smart move from Emery’s perspective to make someone Captzin who is more unpopular than himself…..

shad

Emery is trying too much to redeem himself in the eyes of the fans but it’s annoyingly coming off as blatant indecision or simply shirking responsibility.
Having the players do a secret ballot kinda thing reeks of gross negligence, similar to his incomprehensible pressers and erratic tactical switches and team selctions.

Can’t wait to see him gone. Total wombat.

salpardisenyc

Red

You’d shoot down all members in a pool of O’Leary, McLintock, Adams and the Kray for captain not sure whats ur issue is.

salpardisenyc

Red

You’d shoot down all members in a pool of O’Leary, McLintock, Adams and the Kray twins for captain not sure whats ur issue is.

Champagne charlie

Raptora

That would make sense if it was accurate, but given I supported Emery, changed my view, and have since been vindicated for such (once again criticising the process today) then your words are hollow as it comes.

Good try though, high five.

Xhaka being captained doesn’t change our fortunes the remainder of the season one way or another, I’ll continue to be concerned about the things that do if that’s cool? As I say, drop Ishola an email about Xhaka if you want to chew the fat over the latest fixation.

Redtruth

Xhaka’s big mouthy Albanian gob probably intimidated the younger players to vote for him.

Redtruth

We know the Muslims in the team are going to vote for Xhaka like Mustafi, Ozil and Kolasinac- theirs 3 biased votes already

Graham62

Marko

So be it.

What’s your level headed take on things then?

Graham62

Redtruth

That could be construed as being racist.

Bob N16

Red, I do not think Xhaka should be starting with n PL matches, his deficiencies and the fact that we are more or less playing three forwards, mean that we cannot afford to play him. Graham, how selective are you going to be? ‘The likes of Mustafi, AMN…’ The first team squad all voted so a little ridiculous to just name unpopular players. Look I’m no fan of Emery, I also don’t think being captain is that big a deal. Getting your knickers in a twist because the players chose Xhaka is slightly drama Queenie. Most supporters are looking forward… Read more »

Redtruth

Racist by Muslims favouring Muslims

Emiratesstroller

Let’s be brutally honest there are very few players in our current squad who would be considered “captain” material. Xhaka is probably the obvious choice, because he has been captain with Switzerland and he plays regularly for Arsenal. We may not rate him as a first team player, but then the option available at the club are limited apart from perhaps Bellerin. Whilst there are some who consider Holding a better option the facts are that until now he has not been guaranteed a place in the starting X1. The major problem at the moment is that there are few… Read more »

Sid

Would have been wiser to name the captain during a winning run, if results go wrong now its game over,
Having said that Haka out!

raptora

CC, Regarding me polishing Emery’s shaft, I haven’t done it nearly the same amount of times you’ve licked Xhaka’s bum time and time again for 3 and some years. You keep calling him quality when it’s obvious that he’s been a car crash of a signing for us since the day he’s joined. Yes, I can change my opinion on Emery. And I have the balls to admit I was wrong. You do you do though. Also: “Arsenal are stale and I’d like to see heavy reinvestment/turnover. That being said players like Xhaka (age on his side and good attributes)… Read more »

Valentin

Raptora,

You should not believe everything you read.
I am sorry, but I am the one who reported that. Expect people to dismiss your comment. 😉

I was told there was a French speaking group, a Muslim groups, an injured group, a younger player group, some floaters and some loners. Does not necessarily a bad thing that people group by affinity. However there was some build-up of resentment toward some players who people who received undeserved treatment in favour or against.

Redtruth

Guendouzi has far more leadership qualities that Xhaka as well as being a far better player

1 2 3 4