Arsenal boss Unai Emery names Granit Xhaka as permanent captain - and fans are fuming (Image: Getty)
Granit Xhaka has been named permanent Arsenal captain after a players' vote.
Unai Emery asked his squad to submit their skipper selections during the week and, after reviewing the results, settled on Xhaka.
BBC Sport claim he informed the players of the decision on Friday morning, three days out from their vital clash with top-four rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are ostensibly leading the race for vice-captain - a position which has not yet been finalised.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery names Granit Xhaka as permanent captain - and fans are fuming (Image: Getty)
Such is the brutality of social media, the announcement did not go down well online.
Swathes of Arsenal fans responded to the news, mostly slating Emery and Xhaka.
"Very controversial decision! Why choose a captain that most fans don't even fancy seeing him play???????" one fan raged.
"Nonsense decision," said another, while another posted: "Ruined my day."
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The "Emery out" brigade also arrived in force with some fans tweeting as much, while another supporter joked: "Reported this post for inappropriate content."
The damning assessment of another member of the Emirates faithful was, simply: "DISSOLVE THE CLUB."
"Unai Emery has announced his sacking," opined another north Londoner, while a peer tweeted: "Talk about ignoring the fans. He’s not good enough."
And one fan rejoiced at the news, on the condition it would spell the end for both men at Arsenal: "Perfect! They can both now leave at the end of the season holding hands."
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