This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
The word “shambles” will only go some way to describing the scenes that took place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as Arsenal hosted Crystal Palace.
The first nine minutes were actually very positive, with the Gunners leading 2-0 through Sokratis and David Luiz. However, things turned sour, and the Eagles managed to earn themselves a point by drawing 2-2.
Arsenal fans have started to turn on Unai Emery, find out who they’d rather have in charge in the video below…
The result was almost forgotten, though, thanks to Granit Xhaka’s extraordinary tantrum as he was subbed off in the second half.
An unpopular figure in north London, he was met with boos as he trudged off the field and down the tunnel.
He responded by shouting an expletive in the direction of the stands. The matter was made even worse by the fact he is the club captain.
The Switzerland international was given the armband a few weeks ago after a secret ballot amongst his teammates had deemed him to be the best man for the job.
Since then, Unai Emery hasn’t defended him, saying he was wrong. Former Arsenal great Nigel Winterburn has even demanded he be stripped of the captaincy.
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The problem is, the former Sevilla boss has backed himself into a corner, and he now faces an impossible decision where he simply cannot emerge with any credibility.
On the one hand, it makes a certain amount of sense to ask some players their opinion of who should be their skipper, but by actually allowing a full vote, it shows that the 26-year-old is by far the clear choice – perhaps it was a popularity contest more than possessing the required attributes to captain?
If he now removes him as captain, he will lose the majority of support amongst the players, which he is said to have already done in part. It will be seen as a betrayal. After all, his post-match comments suggest he isn’t in the manager’s good books.
However, if he keeps him as captain, it sends out a terrible message to the fans and, again, the players.
The way he reacted to the supporters was unprofessional, even if it was understandable given the abuse he has often received. The supporters are the lifeblood of the club, so surely they cannot be treated in such a way without consequences?
It would also show to the players they can get away with an awful lot without being reprimanded.
The 47-year-old boss finds himself in a Catch 22, and it is all of his own making. His error of judgement leaves him in an incredibly difficult situation, and now we must wait to see how he emerges from it.