Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka adds himself to a prestigious list with 8 other footballers including Lionel Messi

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was chosen by his team-mates to be the club’s new captain.

Head coach Unai Emery held a blind vote among his squad to decide on his new skipper, with Xhaka winning the vote having worn the armband in six of the first eight games of the campaign.

Emery had a leadership group of five players last year but three of those – Laurent Koscielny, Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey – departed over the course of the summer.

The Spaniard revealed that, for this season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil will be his other captains, in order, should Xhaka not play.

Xhaka, who turned 27 on Friday, finds himself in special company as the Swiss joined 8 other footballers – including Messi – who are captain for 1st division European sides and top 100 national teams –

1. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid & Spain)