Martin Keown blames Unai Emery for Arsenal’s crisis.
Martin Keown believes Unai Emery got it all wrong from the moment he made Granit Xhaka the club’s captain. The former Gunner believes that is what set in motion the toxic environment that has engulfed the club.
Arsenal was plunged into a mini-crisis at the weekend when fans booed off Granit Xhaka. However, that wasn’t the first time the midfielder has been booed off this season and it could have been avoided.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Keown recalled the fact that Xhaka was booed off when he was substituted against Aston Villa earlier in the season, he left the pitch with the Gunners losing 2-1, the team went on to win 3-2 with ten men.
A mere five days later Emery named the Swiss international the club’s captain based on teammates’ votes. But Keown believes that was just a ‘ popularity contest’.
Keown believes Pierre Emerick Aubameyang remains a better bet to lead the Gunners. He feels the problems could have been avoided if the goal machine had been named the club’s captain instead.
Managers decide captains. For Unai Emery to leave it at the hands of teammates to decide who leads them, it seems the Spaniard is not in total control of the dressing room.