Granit Xhaka will lead Arsenal into Monday's Premier League clash at Manchester United as club's new captain, but Swiss midfielder has to win over plenty of doubters that he is fit to wear Gunners' armband. Granit Xhaka's discipline and defensive awareness have repeatedly been questioned since joining club from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016, but both Arsene Wenger and current Arsenal boss Unai Emery have consistently put ir faith in 27-year-old. That trust is t replicated by club's fans. On one of few occasions he was replaced by Emery with Gunners trailing 2-1 to Aston Villa last weekend, Xhaka was booed as he trudged off field. Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal turned game around with energetic duo of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira buzzing around midfield. That is a combination many supporters would like to see on a more regular basis, but Xhaka's elevated status in dressing room means he will remain a fixture for some time to come. Emery sought votes from his squad before naming a five-man leadership group on Friday, of which Xhaka came top, but Spanish manr is aware of doubters questioning his decision.

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Time for Xhaka to repay Emery's faith

"In dressing room players voted him as first (in ) leadership (group)," said Emery on Friday. "I spoke with him, we want to change that opinion outside. That respect he has inside is very, very important. Each match is for him, for me, for us, is a very good opportunity to show our capacity. Really I trust and believe in him. He is a good man. A good professional. A good player." 

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Emery's trust in Xhaka could easily backfire

Arsenal have a break clause in contract y handed former Sevilla manr in 2018 that could see him released at end of season if he fails to deliver Champions League football to Emirates for first time in four years. "It is a brave decision from manr," said former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who described Xhaka's performance against Tottenham earlier in season as being "like a fire engine that turns up and discovers house has already burned down."  A stereotypical late lunge conceded a penalty that day in rth London derby as Arsenal had to battle back from 2-0 down to salv a point. Xhaka also described his side as "scared" when y threw away a 2-0 lead at Watford to draw 2-2 earlier this month. Monday's visit to an injury-ravd United offers Arsenal a great chance for ir first league victory at Old Trafford since 2006. Do so and y will also open up a six-point lead over one of ir rivals to break into top tour. For Emery to show to his superiors that he is making progress as Wenger's long-awaited successor, he needs Xhaka to start to inspire his side to rise to occasion. 

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