By Spy Uganda
London: Arsenal fan and former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has backed the Gunners to appoint Matteo Guendouzi as the new club captain.
Current skipper Granit Xhaka reacted angrily to supporters’ jeers on Sunday and appeared to swear at them while being substituted in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Bent believes Xhaka’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end and reckons midfielder Guendouzi would be the right replacement as captain.
“At Arsenal, they’re struggling at the minute, the results are not good, there’s quite a toxic atmosphere at the minute,” he told the media.
“Him walking off slowly is bad, you need to get off the pitch quicker, but the moment you disrespect the shirt you show a lack of respect to your team-mates, people who have played for the club in the past and everyone associated with the club.
“What makes it worse is he’s the captain. As captain, you set an example. You’re at the forefront at everything. If the team is not playing well you’re going to get criticism first and your team-mates are going to look at you.
“What happens next? The next time he walks out of the pitch he’s going to get it even more from the fans.
“They’ll never forgive him for that.”
And Bent believes there is only one contender to take over the armband – as ‘he never throws the towel in’.
“The only one name I can think of – and it could come too soon – is Matteo Guendouzi. He gives absolutely everything every time he plays.
“I think with Guendouzi, yeah he is young, but he’s someone at the minute that’s showing that it’s not fazing him, he’s still trying to do the right things, still putting his tackles in, still trying to work hard and he’s putting his heart on his sleeve.
“I think fans will appreciate that more than maybe someone who’s got all the ability.
“But someone that gives 100 per cent every game, which he’s been doing, I think that’s why people have been saying ‘well, what about him for captain?’.”
“Is that too much pressure to heap on a kid who is only 20? Probably a little bit, but at the same time, who else can you pick?
“Xhaka needs to look at Guendouzi who is doing everything he should be doing and is only 20.
“He never throws the towel in.”
However, Laura Woods a sports presenter and an arsenal supporter have concerns if Guendouzi was appointed the captain.
She has questioned whether giving the 20-year-old the armband would be the right move by head coach Unai Emery.
Woods said: “There’s a couple of things actually that concern me about Guendouzi, not just because of his age but also the idea of him being the buffer between the manager and the other players and the idea of senior players coming to Matteo Guendouzi to then go and speak to the manager, in my head it doesn’t work.
“But also the politics that that role takes on, it’s not a normal job, it’s not a normal captain’s role.
“Arsenal, it’s a massive, massive club with a lot of history, a lot to live up to, and I just wonder at that age whether it’s just overloading him.
“He’s a brilliant young player, should we just not allow him to be that? And give it to someone with more experience that’s done it before.”
