With the start of the 19/20 Premier League season only days away, there is a growing concern amongst Arsenal fans about who will lead the club during the new campaign.
Club captain Laurent Koscielny has spent his pre-season training with the under-23s, after he publicly announced his desire to leave Arsenal and refusing to travel with the senior team to their tour of the United States. The Frenchman has a year left on his contract and wants to be released on a free transfer to move back to France, with Bordeaux reportedly keen on the defender.
Regardless of where Koscielny ends up, it leaves Arsenal in a sticky situation with regards to who takes over as captain.
There is still no word as to who will be given the armband by Unai Emery, according to the Evening Standard. With only 5 days to go until their opening game against Newcastle United, it adds to the huge pressure of reaching the top 4 – something many predict is too far out of their reach. However, with a bethard bonus code, punters might find its worth a shot.
Gunner’s midfielder Granit Xhaka is a player who has been heavily linked with the role, with the Swiss having plenty of club and international experience under his belt despite his relatively youthful age. Speaking to the Arsenal Player, the 26-year-old admitted he would be happy to take the armband, but revealed Emery is still tight lipped over the decision.
“Nobody has spoken about the captain’s armband,” said Xhaka.
“The coach hasn’t decided but if I have the armband of course I will be happy.
“It’s something special but in the end we have to all be captains on the pitch and outside out of the pitch because we need everyone.”
Xhaka was speaking after Arsenal’s 2-1 loss over Barcelona on Sunday, a loss the midfielder claimed was down to a loss of concentration. The Gunner’s took a 1-0 lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, before an Ainsley Maitland-Niles own goal and a Luis Suarez winner in extra time put the game beyond Emery’s men and handed the Joan Gamper Trophy to Barcelona.
“Today we played against a good opposition in Barcelona,” Xhaka added.
“The first half was very good, the second half was OK.
“We were under a bit more pressure than in the first half, but in the end we have to improve. We have to look at the bad things and keep the good things.
“We played very good but in the end we don’t take anything. We have to learn to concentrate throughout the 90 minutes in future to take something.”
However, despite calls for Xhaka to be made captain, another player who has been tipped for the armband is Saed Kolasinac. The defender has been hailed by Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, who believes his heroics caught on camera with armed robbers last week shows his guts.