Arsenal boss Emery must drop Xhaka for Villa clash, Gunners legend Nicholas insists
ARSENAL LEGEND Charlie Nicholas has called for Unai Emery to drop Granit Xhaka for today's match with Aston Villa at the Emirates.
The Swiss midfielder has started five of Arsenal's six matches in all competitions so far this season and is the favourite to be named as the Gunners' new full-time captain - having worn the armband in each of his appearances this term.
But Nicholas believes that former PSG manager Emery would be better off leaving the hot-headed schemer out for the Premier League clash with the Villans.
He wrote for his Sky Sports weekend predictions: "Where do I start with Arsenal? They must get more from Nicolas Pepe and he must be match fit now.
"Pepe needs to use his trickery and pace to help Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Unai Emery must stick with Reiss Nelson or Joe Willock.
"How can you make sense of the defence? I don't know who will partner David Luiz.
"It doesn't matter whether there are one or two midfielders protecting the back four and I think it is time to leave Granit Xhaka out of the side."
After trudging off the pitch at Vicarage Road last weekend with his Arsenal team having just blown a 2-0 lead against Watford - captain Xhaka accused his side of being 'too scared' in the second half.
He told Sky Sports: "We paid for the second-half. We played very well in the first-half, go into the dressing room and everything is good and everyone is happy.
"And after we came out and played such a bad second half. In the end you pay for this one and have to say that we are happy to take the point.
"We knew they would push us more but in this position we have to show more character, we have to play, we have to not be scared.
"We were too scared in the second half. They pushed us more, we spoke about it in the dressing room at half-time, but you can't give a performance like this."
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The Gunners bounced back on Thursday night - with a young side beating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the Europa League.
Starlets Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka were among the goals - as well as star-striker Aubameyang.
Arsenal face Villa, however, having not won in the Premier League since their 2-1 triumph over Burnley on August 17.