Ex Arsenal defender, Nigel Winterburn has said Unai Emery should strip Granit Xhaka of the Gunners captaincy as soon as possible.
Arsenal let a 2-0 lead slip for another game this season, drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace yesterday the same way they did vs Watford earier this season.
Xhaka was booed by fans when he reacted poorly to being substituted by throwing his armband and getting off the pitch slowly. He also cupped his ear to the crowd and swore at the supporters before he ripped his shirt and stormed down the tunnel.
Reacting, Nigel has said Xhaka’s behavior is shocking and he should no longer be captain.
His words, “I was very surprised, he’s the captain of Arsenal Football Club! I was amazed when he cupped his ears, his shirt was off and then he was swearing at the supporters – it’s not something you expect from your captain,”
“I think Unai Emery needs to take him out of the firing line in terms of the captaincy. He’s got five captains and he can easily do that.
“I don’t agree with five captains and I don’t like this ‘vote for your captain scenario’. The manager should pick the captain. I find having five captains very, very bizarre.
“This has all put Unai Emery in a very difficult situation and he’s got to deal with it quickly, he can’t let it linger on.”
“If Unai Emery backs Granit Xhaka he’s going to realise what supporting Arsenal is all about,”
“If the fans don’t agree with him the manager himself his going to come under increasing pressure.
“What it does is it then puts a lot of pressure on the next game, over whether the manager starts Xhaka. If he doesn’t start well or he makes him captain, you’re waiting then for that reaction from supporters, and you need you supporters with you.
“Now you’re going to find there’s going to be that divide we had towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign, and we simply can’t have that at the club again.”
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