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da bet nacional： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Since Laurent Koscielny walked out of the Emirates Stadium in rather controversial circumstances this summer, it was always going to be interesting to see who was named the new captain at Arsenal.
Four weeks into the new campaign and we are yet to have an answer from manager Unai Emery.
Granit Xhaka has been writing a view from the dressing room in the matchday programme, a role previously undertaken by Koscielny in what served as the captain’s notes.
Last term, Emery supposedly had five skippers to call upon, a decision in itself that was rather bizarre.
Taking on the roles alongside Koscielny were Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Xhaka.
It appears as though the Swiss has been granted the privileges and extra responsibility this season, but whether he gets it permanently remains to be seen.
However, in one moment of madness, or rather many moments in his career at Arsenal, he’s proven why he cannot be granted the role.
With the Gunners 1-0 down in Sunday’s north London derby, they needed someone to stand up and be counted.
They needed a leader and someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. So what did Xhaka do? He characteristically slid in on Heung-min Son inside the area, leaving the only question to be how on earth he wasn’t booked.
It was a cynical and mistimed challenge that summed the 26-year-old up. For all the passes he can pick and his ability to dictate the tempo, there is always the fear of recklessness in him.
For that reason alone, Emery’s big decision mustn’t fall at the feet of the Switzerland international.
Instead, it must go to someone more reliable. There aren’t too many members in the squad like that, but someone must stand up and take on the role gleefully.
Xhaka has proven himself to be someone that lets the side down. The north London derby wasn’t the first time, nor will it likely be the last.
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