Xhaka stripped of captain’s role at Arsenal as Aubameyang steps in
Granit Xhaka has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy after his angry response to being booed by his own fans at the Emirates last month, raising further doubts over his future at the club.
Unai Emery, the Arsenal head coach, revealed last night that he had now removed Xhaka from the club’s leadership group and promoted Pierre-emerick Aubameyang to the role of club captain.
Emery said he hoped to draw a line under the issue but his decision will raise fresh questions about Xhaka’s long-term future at the Emirates and the response of the players to their coach’s decision.
Xhaka is highly respected by the squad and was voted in as captain by his team-mates earlier this season. He has also had the public backing of his fellow players since he stormed off the pitch in last month’s draw with Crystal Palace.
Emery refused to give any concrete assurances over Xhaka’s longterm standing at Arsenal, saying that he wanted to “protect” the player, who signed a long-term contract in June last year.
“I decided he is not one of the captains in our group,” said Emery yesterday. “I told him this morning. He accepted my decision. We need to carry on and focus for tomorrow’s match and next Saturday’s match. Now it is closed.”
In a statement last week, Xhaka said he had been “deeply” hurt by abusive comments from supporters at matches and on social media, which included messages wishing cancer upon his young daughter. The midfielder admitted, though, that he had “reacted in a way that disrespected” the club’s fans.
Emery has again left Xhaka out of the match-day squad as Arsenal prepare to face Vitoria SC tonight but he said he wanted to “continue” with the 27-year-old.
“He is not here today, but we need time with him and to protect him,” said Emery. “Also to be calm and training with us every day. We need time, he is one of our players and we want to respect and protect him and also continue in our way.”
Hector Bellerin, another member of Emery’s leadership group, said the dressing room needed to come together to provide Xhaka with their “love and care”.
Bellerin has also been fiercely criticised by fans during his time at the club. In a match against Palace in 2017 he was told that he was not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt.
“It was really hard for me back then,” said Bellerin. “But I said to Granit, this is like in every other walk of life: there are ups and downs. One day you are at the top, the other day you are low. These are things we need to learn to deal with. When these things happen to you personally, you have a whole squad that can support you. That’s what happened with me back then.
“I was very young and I had all the older players telling me not to worry about these things.
“You keep your head down, you train, you do better and then everyone forgets or forgives. It’s going to be the same situation with him.” Vitoria SC (probable, 4-3-3) Douglas; Rochinha, Tapsoba, Pedro Henrique, Hanin; Mikel Agu, Lucas Evangelista, Davidson; Bonatini, Edwards, Bruno Duarte.
Arsenal (probable, 4-3-3) Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac; Maitland-niles, Torreira, Willock; Pepe, Martinelli, Saka.
Referee Halis Ozkahya (Turkey). Kick-off 3.50pm. TV BT Sport 2.