ARSENAL have acted decisively to strip Granit Xhaka of the club captaincy following his outburst at the fans during the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
But that didn't stop the North Londoners throwing away another lead as Vitoria equalised for a point in the Europa League – amid continued speculation over Unai Emery's future at the club where Leicester's Brendan Rodgers is being linked with taking over.
Get all the latest reaction here on a seismic day for the Gunners…
COMMENT by Neil Ashton: Arsenal have earmarked Rodgers as next boss… and his Leicester could put final nail in Emery’s coffin.
SOME of Brendan Rodgers’ biggest admirers will be at the King Power tomorrow.
Among the 30,000 expectant Leicester faithful, Arsenal’s travelling officials will play out a game of poker behind the scenes.
Rodgers, fast becoming the world’s most-wanted football coach, is earmarked for the Gunners job.
It is easy to see why.
Leicester’s progressive approach, along with Rodgers’ absolute commitment to serving up attractive football, suits the latte-sippers at the Emirates.
Fans in the red half of North London are crying out for the good old Arsenal, a throwback to the days when they could romanticise about the passing of Fabregas, the pace of Henry or the brainpower of Bergkamp.
The current Arsenal, under Unai Emery’s increasingly chaotic stewardship, is stodgy, stale and unworkable.
His management style is under scrutiny with fans and owners. The club has turned toxic.
Read more HERE.
ARSENAL are reportedly set to battle West Ham for £22million-rated Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger in a desperate bid to stop shipping goals.
The Gunners are desperate to shore up their defensive ranks in January and are now thought to be looking to the Austrian international.
But Unai Emery may not have it all his own way, with West Ham long-term admirers of the centre-back, say Football Insider.
ARSENAL should have signed Gary Cahill last summer, reckons Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners legend told Sky Sports: “Arsenal don't sign personalities.
“Sadly I have to go way back to David Dein and he would sit down with Arsene Wenger and ask what kind of character he was singing. That's gone now.
“It's as if Arsenal sign players because they are desperate.
“Why not – and I don't know how much he would have cost – go and get Chris Smalling from Manchester United in the summer before he went to Roma?
“Because he'd be better than what they had. They could've had Gary Cahill from Chelsea and sat him in the defence.”
LIVERPOOL legend Steven Gerrard would jump at the chance to ditch Rangers to manager Arsenal.
Former Manchester United striker Alan Brazil told talkSPORT: “If the Arsenal job comes up, see you later.
“He'll do a Brendan [Rodgers].”
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