Gabby Agbonlahor believes Granit Xhaka can be the captain again despite being previously stripped of the role following a difficult relationship with the club’s fans.
Back in October 2019, Xhaka was removed as the Gunners’ skipper after he threw his shirt to the ground at the Emirates as the home crowd booed him off the pitch during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
took up the armband but, since the striker left the club to join in January, Arsenal have been without a permanent captain with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Kieran Tierney covering the role this season.
Agbonlahor, the former forward, thinks Xhaka has put himself back in the frame to be Arsenal’s captain, owing to his recent form in midfield with the north London side in pole position to finish in the top-four this season.
Speaking to, he said: ‘I think so, yeah. Xhaka has been outstanding. He shows fight and he looks like a good leader.
‘The Arsenal fans have taken to him again and you’ve seen stranger things happen. I’ve got no problem with it.’
Xhaka being linked with a return to the Arsenal captaincy signals a huge change of fortunes for the Swiss star who has been linked with a move away from the cub recently.
Last summer, it was reported he was close to a move after Arsenal accepted a £15 millon offer from Roma.
But manager Mikel Arteta changed his mind and the 29-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Thomas Partey in midfield this term.
Last month, he scored in the Gunners’ 3-1 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates and celebrated with the home fans, indicating a repair in relations between the two parties.
When quizzed by Sky Sports last week, Xhaka – who joined Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 – refused to rule out taking up the club’s armband again.
He said: ‘I will never say never. If tomorrow someone from the football club comes and asks if I want to take it I will be here because I know I am ready again to do it.’
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