Unai Emery has removed Granit Xhaka as the Arsenal captain and has named Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his place.
Unai Emery said ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League clash against Vitoria, “We have now Aubameyang, Hector, Lacazette and Ozil – they are the four captains, and first is now Aubameyang.
When asked about Granit Xhaka’s fate at Arsenal, the manager replied, “Again, we can do one step more with him. He’s not here today but also I think we need to take time with him, first to protect him and also to be calm and training with us every day. But I was speaking with him this morning and also I decided he’s not one of the captains in our group and I decided that and I told him this morning.
“He accepted my decision and also I told the captain and other captain my decision, we need to carry on and to focus on tomorrow’s match and Saturday’s match. I needed to take one decision, and now it is closed.”
Emery was further questioned about Xhaka’s future at the club to which he said, “I think we are speaking a lot about that and it’s clear, there’s not more words about that. The decision I have taken, and also I told him and I told the other captains and now we are continuing.
“Then the time is giving us the next matches, the next weeks and the next months, how we can continue with every player and with him also. But now our focus is on tomorrow, he is not here. We have other players and for me also it’s very important that I respect a lot the competition and Vitoria Guimaraes and also we have on Saturday another important match.
“Our focus is only those two matches and I want to say to you also my decision. I told them. First Xhaka and then the captains and it’s finished. For me, it’s finished, that moment and that issue and his future with us is coming for the next weeks or the next months and now we need to be focused for tomorrow.”
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