In a recent interview with BBC Radio 5 Live (transcripted by Shoot.co.uk), Arsenal legend Ian Wright revealed that Granit Xhaka does not deserve to wear the captain’s armband when he said, “He shouldn’t be named captain, he should be focusing on his own game.
“The captaincy and all the responsibility that comes with that, he makes the mistakes that, if I’m on the pitch and Tony Adams is on the pitch making mistakes like that, I’m thinking ‘what are you doing?!‘.
“He made so many fouls [against Spurs], he could have easily been sent off. I saw [Matteo] Guendouzi make a challenge in the box where he saw the danger, started to ease over to him and he intercepted it.”
Xhaka’s Form For The Gunners Has Been Poor Of Late
Xhaka put in another disappointing display in last weekend’s North London derby versus Tottenham Hotspur. Unai Emery has decided to name the Swiss international as the captain of the Gunners following Laurent Koscielny’s departure earlier this summer. However, Xhaka has shown no leadership capabilities and has often made silly errors of judgement at the back as evidenced by his mistake, which led to Spurs earning a penalty at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The 26-year-old has made three appearances for the North London giants this term but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for this campaign. He has not surrounded himself in glory on the defensive end as he is averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.3 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per game in the English top-flight this season (stats via whoscored).
What Could Be The Reason Behind Emery’s Choice To Name Xhaka As His Skipper At North London?
The true reason behind Emery’s decision to name Xhaka as his team’s new captain for the 2019-20 campaign is still unclear. However, it could be because the former Basel ace is the skipper of the Switzerland national team. Hence, Emery might have considered him to make a smooth transition and assume the same leadership responsibilities at the club level as well.
One can argue whether Xhaka deserves a place in Arsenal’s squad as he has let the club’s supporters down way too many times in the recent past. You should absolutely read this brilliant piece by a colleague on why Xhaka needs to be dropped from the first team immediately. He is prone to making mistakes at the back and can be a liability at times on the field. The Swiss talent doesn’t add too much creativity to the Gunners midfield. He is also not a potent goal-threat from long range.
Should Emery Listen To Ian Wright’s Advice?
Xhaka can provide adequate protection to the Arsenal backline when he is playing against the lesser sides. However, his tendency to make errors inside his own half could be detrimental for Emery’s hopes of securing a top 4 place this season. Hence, the Gunners boss is better off listening to Ian Wright’s advice and stripping Xhaka of his Arsenal captaincy unless he can come back stronger than ever after the international break.
