Arsenal: Granit Xhaka Needs Captaincy Sooner Rather Than Later

Arsenal has had a captaincy conundrum ever since Patrick Vieira left, but they can solve that conundrum sooner rather than later with Granit Xhaka.

I have been griping and moaning about Arsenal‘s captain situation for awhile now. While our rivals employed hard-nosed, club-loving captains like Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and the like, Arsenal were left with Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker. Not to mention those ‘loyal’ guys like Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, whose long-term captaincy was spoiled by their unavoidable, snake-like attributes.

I believe that is why Granit Xhaka is here. I don’t think we have ever seen Arsene Wenger go so hard after a player as he did for Granit Xhaka. He pulled out all the stops to make this guy the next big thing, he paid the market price (rare), he personally attended to wooing him and now Xhaka is Arsenal’s biggest fan and future star.

Xhaka has to be the future captain of this club. It’s been too long since Arsenal has had a serious captain. Someone that we could invest in, that will hang around and that can motivate this team on the pitch to live up to their lofty expectations.

It’s been over a decade since we’ve had a captain like that. Ironic that it’s also been over a decade since we won a major trophy. Perhaps there is some relation.

Supposedly, Laurent Koscielny is going to be the captain this year, with Arteta having retired and subsequently moved to Manchester City. I totally dig that, he’s an Arsenal man through and through. But the fact that he has been ignored for the captaincy thus far makes me think that Wenger never really wanted him as captain and he’s just a fall back. Plus, at 30 years old, longevity is a question.

Arsenal has not taken the captaincy seriously. It’s been more of an honorary role. They finally have the opportunity to take it seriously with Xhaka. It’s not like Wenger was ignoring having a serious captain, it’s just that there weren’t any standout candidates.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Given a good year with Arsenal where he makes 30+ appearances, shows his leadership and proves that he can adjust to life in England, I vote that Xhaka becomes captain and takes on a Vieira-like leadership role that lead to the Invincible season.

I just wonder how keen Wenger is on the idea. I’m sure that eventually, the plan is to give Xhaka the armband. But Wenger is not one to take risks and it could be seen as a risk to give a one-year man the arm band. It took him six years to give Vieira the arm band. Although to be fair, that was because Mr. Arsenal himself. Tony Adams, was still holding onto the role and there was no reason to unseat him. Had Adams left earlier, I’m sure Vieira would have been given the role.

Next: Arsenal's Predicted Opening Day XI

There is no Mr. Arsenal anymore, and without that presence, Arsenal has suffered. Xhaka is the first captain-like presence that we have had in years and he has to be given the role sooner rather than later. If the Swiss midfielder truly believes that Arsenal are the greatest team in the world, then captaining that team should be enough to give us faith in his continued stay.

Home/Arsenal News