Time for Arsenal captain Xhaka to repay Emery's faith
Granit Xhaka will lead Arsenal into Monday's Premier League clash at Manchester United as the club's new captain, but the Swiss midfielder has to win over plenty of doubters that he is fit to wear the Gunners' armband.
Xhaka's discipline and defensive awareness have repeatedly been questioned since joining the club from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, but both Arsene Wenger and current Arsenal boss Unai Emery have consistently put their faith in the 27-year-old.
That trust is not replicated by the club's fans. On one of the few occasions he was replaced by Emery with the Gunners trailing 2-1 to Aston Villa last weekend, Xhaka was booed as he trudged off the field.
Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal turned the game around with the energetic duo of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira buzzing around the midfield.
That is a combination many supporters would like to see on a more regular basis, but Xhaka's elevated status in the dressing room means he will remain a fixture for some ...