Unai Emery has refused to confirm if Granit Xhaka will continue as Arsenal captain.
The midfielder provoked anger during the weekend's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace as he was booed by supporters as he walked off the pitch. He then cupped his ear and appeared to shout an obscenity towards fans.
Xhaka's actions have seen numerous legends of the club speak out against him, but Emery, who held crunch talks with the skipper earlier this week, will not be as quick to react.
Ahead of Wednesday's Carabao Cup encounter with Liverpool, he was quizzed over the players future and replied: "I don't want to speak about that. Firstly, he has to recover. We cannot anticipate the circumstances.
"I'd prefer to keep moving forward."
Xhaka received criticism for his failure to apologise to fans in the immediate aftermath of the incident, but the former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain confirmed that the 27-year-old is hurting at present.
"It's not easy for him and for the team. He is now devastated, sad," Emery said. "We spoke yesterday and Sunday night and this morning.
"He trained normally with the group but he is devastated. He is sad about that situation.
"His commitment is great every time. He wants to help. His behaviour was perfect in training, with the group and club. Really he knows he was wrong.
"He feels inside, very deep. It's normal as a human. Every player needs the supporters' support.
"We need to be strong, to know and learn to play under our pressure. It's our work, our job. The supporters are the most important in our lives. If there aren't supporters and fans behind us there's no reason to play football.
"He is down. The most important now is to look after him and his family and also recover our best Granit Xhaka.
"After that wrong situation on Sunday I have one challenge every time."
Nevertheless, Emery said the man elected as captain by his team-mates in a vote should have handled the situation different.
"When we make individually some mistakes we need to make some apologies. I prefer to do that. We've suggested he do that," he continued.
"He has the mindset to be the captain. I decided that and the players respect that.
"He was wrong on Sunday and also did not respond as captain."
fr3d
0
Emery is a joker seriously.!!
Pezaeip
1
IN D FIRST place XHAKA should not be ARSENAL CAPTAIN dat is MADNESS of all players
Pezaeip
1
EMREY and XHAKA need to be SACK from ARSENAL CLUB
yohciklnpu
0
I blame Crystal palace for causing this frustration to Asernal players and fans
luzclrsy
1
imaging if he was English player no body could talk like that, plz let's be fair
luzclrsy
0
English media are adding too much salt, because Xhaka is not an English,
emondorock
1
Emery should not of taken his Captain off only if injured, it is a sign of respect putting him in that position in the first place.
buadklnopz
1
I think this Emiry is weird. So he is still adamant on this disaster called Xhaka? Please can someone tell me what both of them had brought to Arsenal since their arrival?
MrMeeeeeee
3
I'm fed up of all this right now 😤 What the hell is happening to my club. I'm supporting Arsenal for a very long time , going back to Highbury. Never in my life have i seen such mess and never seems to be getting better , only worse ...like WTF
albamu
2
the problem is not for him to start as captain or not, but for him not to play at all.
Paworty
2
Xhaka is not qualify to be a team captain..with his behaviour.
Andy_Mac
1
If Arsenal should change their captain, I think they ought to choose either Aubameyang or Bellerin. I think those two players are certainly capable of showing real leadership
fehblmotu
3
If emery returns xhaka to the squad as captain then the fans would turn on him heavily if they lose again vs wolves. Emery better leave this guy out of that team for good. I bet anyone here if XHAKA is given 10years as Arsenal player, he can never stop being silly in games. He lacks concentration, slow in decision making, not fast in closing players, commit unnecessary fouls. He was never meant to be an arsenal player, the truth be told, xhaka isn’t good enough.. I rate former player DENILSON ahead of xhaka believe me. It’s better the club keeps this guy away from the team as he’s never a footballer.. FUCK OFF XHAKA !!!!!!!!
wiuklostz
1
Emery and his nightmare imposter Xhaka OUT!
Ibra_Him32
1
akadnc
1
we dnt need apologizes we need goals regardless who is the captain
seaaopuyz
1
Im so fucking tied of this manager, he is shit, he is lying all the time about whats going in the dressing room. Fuck off my club Emery.
jueaistz
0
arsenal should go after brendan rogers
ye but like he is going to go from Leicester in ,3rd place
jueaistz
2
cop on emery u need to cop on and get your act togheter and get us in to top 4 there no room for Europa league saying emery is the best manager for the Europa league Celtic would probably win us
yuneikns
0
arsenal should go after brendan rogers
You hit the nail on its head..
Zeezy
0
He would refuse because they are birds of the same feather
Ray_lorde
0
This man doesn't know that his the cause of this whole mess, this is a player the fans never wanted as captain yet u ignored the signs nd made him captain. All ur mumu work will fall right in front of u as dey re falling one by one
Yuubelnty
1
arsenal should go after brendan rogers
Miteshvanp
0
Xhaka can always leave, but what if he chose to stay and fight and for once make the whole Emirates applaud by doing something great. That would be “The Captain”. Let’s do this Xhaka
Audi01
5
XHAKA : (X)enophobic (H)ate (A)gainst (K)ey (A)thlete.
Audi01
1
XHAKA: (X)enophobic (H)ate (A)gainst (K)ey (A)thlete.
sawdelmnrz
0
Come so you only worried with xhaka but u don't care with ozil useless coach
TaslimAlamat
1
This is the time to Sacked Emery from Arsenal. I know Xhaka is one of the best captain in Arsenal history
manlikeace__
0
if this guy plays again I'll know Emery is weak and useless
dukdiry
1
Emery... weak like all the players