Unai Emery has named Xhaka as the captain of Premier League giants Arsenal but Keown thinks Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the right man for the job.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has slammed the decision to hand the captaincy to under-fire midfielder Granit Xhaka, telling talkSPORT (27 September, 11.40am) that Unai Emery should have chosen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang instead.
If you asked the majority of Arsenal fans, Xhaka shouldn’t even be in the starting XI right now, let alone with the armband wrapped around his bicep.
The Swiss international has captained The Gunners in every Premier League game he’s featured in this season but his performances have left a lot to be desired.
And the stats are damning. No player in the division has given away more many penalties or committed more errors leading directly to goals than Xhaka since his £35 million move from Borussia Monchengladbach three years ago (BBC).
Keown, who was part of the last Arsenal team to win the Premier League title in 2004, certainly believes that Emery has made a big error with the prolific Aubameyang more deserving of to lead the team out on a matchday.
“It’s surprising isn’t it. He was booed off the pitch less than seven days ago. It’s a brave decision,” Keown said. “I’m surprised because, first and foremost, are you sure he’s going to be in the team? There’s other people in there, Torreira and Guendouzi.
“I perhaps would’ve gone for Aubameyang. He’s doing fantastic work and he’s secure in the team, he’s a fixture. This is really going to divide the fans.
“This is a massive call and I think perhaps he’s got it wrong.”
Defender Rob Holding revealed earlier in the week that Emery had asked his players to choose their captain in a secret ballot so Xhaka is clearly a well respected player in the dressing room, in quotes reported by The Standard.
But a player who gives away penalties at will and picks up ridiculous bookings on a weekly basis doesn’t exactly scream ‘captain material’.
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