It is being reported that Granit Xhaka is the leading contender to take over from Laurent Koscielny as the next Arsenal captain.
Koscielny is set to lose the captaincy after refusing to travel with the rest of the squad on the pre-season tour of the USA.
Xhaka has been captain before and is one of the five captains that Unai Emery had last season.
Only Mesut Ozil and Xhaka are left from the original five captains and it makes sense that those two are in the running for the role on a permanent basis.
However, it is difficult to see Emery going with Ozil, he does not trust the German enough and it is very unlikely that he will be a consistent starter next season.
That leaves just Xhaka from that core of five.
Xhaka has a history of being a captain with both Switzerland and his previous club Borussia Monchengladbach and Emery clearly has a liking for the 26-year-old.
Emery has addressed the captaincy issue saying
“We spoke a little about that. Last year we had Laurent, Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey.
“At the moment Koscielny has a contract with us but we’ll speak with the club and him about if he will continue or not. We have players with the capacity [to be captain], one is Granit, he was a captain in the dressing room.
“We have others like Mesut, Nacho. There are other players who can take this position also. I want between three and five captains in the team.”
We will know soon enough but as stated above, the reports are that Xhaka is the front runner and the most likely to be named the captain for the coming season.
That will not be universally welcomed by the Arsenal fans. Ozil still has his fans as do Sokratis, Leno and Lacazette and in fact, if you were to ask Arsenal fans if the club should even consider selling Xhaka you will be surprised how many say yes.
And that is who will most likely be the captain. Think about that.
I would go for Leno
Yes. Leno is good. I would even prefer laca as he has passion. But ideally i feel Holding will make an excellent leader if he plays continously.
Laca my first choice
Not like we are spoilt for choice. The entire squad has zero real leaders so of course the new pick will be disappointing.
Unfortunately that wnat would most likely happen, since Monreal doesn’t have a good future at Arsenal anymore due to his age and contract
I’d prefer Sokratis to be the captain because he can see things better in the back, but that would be highly improbable because he is a newcomer
If we cannot move the deadwoods out and if we don’t buy at least one skillful winger, I foresee a doomed season
I think you’re right there, the captain of a team is normally the best/longest serving defender or midfielder. Strikers aren’t usually long term leaders so that rules out lacazette. Xhaka is now the most senior midfielder but Sokratis has the right experience and “winning mentality”.
I agree with you about Sokratis. I also think Carl Jenkinson should stay on the team.
It has to be someone at the back so they can see what’s going on and instruct the players
If made captain, Xhaka would do the toss up at the start of each game and as he’s one of the biggest tossers we’ve got he may be a good choice?
??
Hahahahahahahaha…?
Caugh and splutter..?
..Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!?
Seriously though, Xhaka is no leader!!!
Quality!!!
It’s a no brainer! Sign Alves and give it to him!
Sell Zhaka instead of giving him our arm band. Lacazette wil be ideal choice.
A captain should be a constant figure on team day sheet who leads by example and has stand out performances consistently so us to boost other players morale be respected and be emulated by the young player’s. Unfortunately inthe recent past till now none of our players has this in them,may be Nacho who I think always gives his best but it is not enough.
My choice would be R.Holding. I just think he has what it takes to lead this team to the future because most of senior players are dead wood who should be moved on.
As for Xhaka,I just hope Emery will not play him as DM this season.If he really likes him,he should use him further up the field and let those behind him wipe his messes every time he loses the ball.
You contradict yourself immediately though. Holding has NEVER played a full season under us where he was a regular. He has only played 30 total EPL matches actually. He was only available half of last season and will miss probably the first few months of this upcoming season, yet you want him to be captain? Maybe in the future, but there is zero reason he should be one right now.
Whether you like it or not, the fact is this squad has no true leaders. Xhaka was captain at Gladbach, and despite being an average player you can’t accuse him of not trying, unlike half of our squad. Xhaka, Sokratis were the only logical choices for captain, so I think it’s silly to complain about him being picked. We just don’t have any real leaders so this is what we have to settle for.
In the long-term, Holding is a good shout but mu immediate choice would be Sokratis.
Any truth in some reports that the Brazilian player “Everton” is having a medical for Arsenal? Is the lad any good?
My mate just mentioned it and thought it’s probably the usual BS we all know and love being Arsenal’s supporters.
Next we will be hearing reports that Bale is on his way!
Believe it when it happens. If anyone else is scouring the internet for information on who is coming to Arsenal, do yourself a favour and stop!
It will be time better spent on something else, trust me!
Alves and Cahill 2 captains both available for free. Both could easily play 25-30 games per season giving bellerin, holding and mavropanos time to regain fitness would compliment the current defence and allow us to buy Tierney and cash in on Jenkinson koscielny and kolsinac
In as much as i am in tune with your suggestion it’s so unfortunate i can’t stop scouring the internet for who is coming for us as a player bro. I detest how things goes on in my Arsenal but i can’t help other than keep been a lover of this club.
Cold zero, Everton Soares is the real deal, being a member of the Brazilian national team, which won the Copa America.
With Edu it looks like Arsenal is now approaching South American players at the source, before they move to Europe and make their name with big clubs.
What about Hector Bellerin for Captain, I notice no one has mentioned him as a likely candidate.
Hardly surprising that they haven’t either. Hopeless defender and immature into the bargain. Mainly interested in social media, fashion and his hair instead of bulking up and adding much needed muscle to stop him being outmuscled constantly. Almost the last player I would have as captain.
yes. he only acted the way he did because he though he’s betrayed by arsenal management
To sign Alves or Cahill would be foolish in the extreme.Thankfully it won’t happen.Arsenal FC should no longer be a dumping ground for players who have had their day.
Exactly, Grandad ?
They are still good enough for one season. I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all. Can’t be any worse than Mustafi, Sokratis, Lichtsteiner (who’s gone now thankfully)
Granit xhaka captain ??? Never mind buying Everton are we trying to be them ?
Surely we must rely onUE’sjudgement when it comes to the captaincy issue?
Agreed, we don’t have a lot of choice, but by the start of the season who knows who we might have signed?
Also, barring injury, it must be someone who will play in every game…so with this in mind the only player who PRESENTLY fits the bill for UE is Xhaka.
He has chosen him, whenever possible, so I don’t see this as a surprise to be honest.
BBC just reporting the Saliba deal is approaching conclusion.
The signing that will excite me the most would be Everton S.
Then Tierney and Cabellos would follow this would be the 4 players Emery is expecting us to sign
But didn’t Emery say we will get 3-4 players who can help us NOW? So Saliba wouldn’t fit that description.
LB Tierney £20m (+ add ons)
CM Ceballos LOAN
LW Everton £25m (+ add ons)
Koscielny likely going out the door so I believe we can go for another CB. And I think our budget will be minimal.
Captain requirements imo:
1. Can’t be too young and inexperienced (so no Holding)
2. Can’t be someone fairly new signing
Must have been here for at least 3 years at least (so No Sokratis, Torreira, Leno)
3. Can’t be a squad player, must be usually a starter when fit
For me the Captain should be Monreal, Bellerin or Kolsanic
I don’t want Mustafi, Xhaka, Ozil to be captains because I don’t even want them in the squad let alone wear the armband
I think Xhaka fits the bill to become the Gunners’ captain next season. Because if us Gooners take a closer look into all the senior Gunners presently in the 1st team squad at the club, us we note there isn’t any senior Gunner that can be seen to have leadership quality on the field for Arsenal like Granit Xhaka has shown in matches for the club last season in the PL. Save, Koscielny that’s being stripped of the captaincy arm band, Monreal has shown he has some leadership quality in him to lead the Gunners team. But he doesn’t play on the consistent basis in the team as Xhaka does. And I don’t see Ozil having the team captaincy quality in him to lead the Gunners in matches despite he’s being the top most earner at the club but cannot leave to the billing of it on the field of play for the team as apart of his often becoming anonymous for Arsenal in matches for the club last season in the PL, he also missed quite a number of matches for Arsenal in the PL either due to excessive colds or injury claims he’s reported to have had.
Aparrarently not only has Ozil dyed his hair but he said Mustafi and Kolasinac did it as well as part of a crossbar challenge they lost with Lacazette !
We will now terrorize the opposition with three butch looking lesbians in the team, not sure how Sue will take Sead`s new look ? hahahaha
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0AGhc1l-b3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again
I’m too scared to look online for pictures, Le Coq ??
We’ll terrorize the opposition with 3 butch looking lesbians – all I’ve got to say is.. why the hell didn’t they dye their hair 3 seasons ago?! ?
Now he looks like a proper German, may be his work rate will match a proper German player.
I prefer Nacho, Xhaka frankly is one of the worst players I have seen in Arsenal, especially with the price tag. I prefer Mustafai on him. Slow, can’t tackle well, his passes had cost us more points than any other players, completely useless. If I am a coach, I would have shipped him out at the first opportunity.
?
Simply no viable candidate available. Just give the armband to Gunnersaurus
I don’t see why it has to be a senior from the squad or one that has been there for long as quite frankly they have not deserved it. I think sokratis, laca, or torreira. Someone hard working & shows a bit of passion & in not a complete liability like most of the others & will also play in most of the games. Don’t expect to get a different result if you keep doing the same thing every season, give someone else a chance.
To be honest would really like to see Xhaka captain but of another club. However, I know I’m dreaming as no other club would pay the salary and transfer fee for him so Arsenal is stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Maybe Emery can try him a little further up and hope he improves although in reality I doubt it.
God help us if Emery makes the hopeless Xhaka captain. It would mean him once again playing regularly and I cannot stand this cumbersome, slow paced, immobile, hothead. He should be sold ASAP.
Totally agree Jon, a Captain should lead by example. Xhakas passes are often misplaced, he looses the player he’s meant to be marking, he gives stupid fouls away. How can he try and motivate players when he has no motivation himself.
Granit is an excellent captaincy choice.
Clearly the best option.
I welcome this decision.
The arm band is shared around during a 60 match season
and we have many who can take their turn.
Welcome skip GX 🙂
Xhaka’s toilet we have not got a single captain or leader in the squad.