Granit Xhaka named Arsenal captain after winning player vote

GRANIT XHAKA has been named the new captain of Arsenal after topping a player vote.

Gunners boss Unai Emery decided to allow his players to have a say on who should lead their team this season with five potential candidates.

And midfielder Xhaka, 27, is the man who has come out as the winner, according to the BBC's .

He has beaten off competition from the likes of Bernd Leno, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and David Luiz to get the job.

The Swiss international has captained the side at times in the past, but will now take over the role on a full-time basis.

He succeeds previous Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny, who had worn the armband when fit until he walked out of the club in disgrace over the summer.

Xhaka had been seen as the leading candidate to assume the role which became available when Koscielny went on strike in an attempt to force a move back to France.

He has already captained the Gunners in six of their eight matches this season - and it appears he was an easy selection for his team-mates.

Yet to be decided, however, is who will take up the position of vice-captain.

It is suggested that role is now a straight battle between attacking duo Aubameyang and Lacazette.

Last season manager Emery rotated the captaincy among a group of players including Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech.

That quartet all left the club in the summer, leaving Mesut Ozil as the only one from the group who wore the armband left.

But Ozil has been overlooked by his team-mates in favour of Xhaka - partly down to him not always being in the manager's side.