Harry Diamond
Emmanuel Petit has questioned Arsenal’s decision to hand Granit Xhaka the captaincy on a permanent basis following the club’s 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Monday night.
Unai Emery’s side slipped out of the Premier League‘s top four following a poor performance at Bramall Lane, with former Arsenal midfielder Petit critical of Xhaka’s performance.
The Swiss international has come under criticism this season following a series of below-par displays and Petit believes there was once again an evident lack of leadership against Chris Wilder’s side.
The Frenchman questioned the decision to award the 27-year-old the armband following the summer departure of Laurent Koscielny.
“Can you imagine Patrick Vieira on the pitch on Monday night?” Petit told Paddy Power. “He would have been shouting at his team-mates, asking them: ‘What the fuck are you doing?’
“I don’t see that with Xhaka. I do with Guendouzi – he’s one of the few who shows he wants to win every game. He’s got a lion’s heart.
“Can anyone tell me what is Xhaka’s best quality? I don’t know why he has been made captain. The leadership is absent.”
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