Granit Xhaka has finally been confirmed as Arsenal captain.
The Swiss international had been wearing the captain’s armband to start the 2019-20 season but manager Unai Emery only confirmed that the 27-year-old on Friday.
This may not be welcomed by too many Arsenal fans who find it bad enough that the central midfielder starts every week.
Xhaka is a good passer of the ball but is at risk of a yellow card or worse with every tackle he makes. Bizarrely, he has been playing the holding midfield role in Unai Emery’s central midfield trio, whilst Lucas Torreira has often been named on the substitutes bench to start the 2019-20 season.
Emery is a knowledgeable manager and obviously sees the leadership skills in his newly-named captain. This won’t be good news for Torreira, who many Arsenal fans feel is their best holding midfielder.
The armband had been freed up over the summer when Laurent Koscielny left the club to return to his homeland with Bordeaux.
