Arsenal title winner Paul Merson has sympathy for Granit Xhaka.

Gunners boss Unai Emery decided to name Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the new club captain after Xhaka lashed out at jeers from the crowd against Crystal Palace last month.

Merson told the Daily Star: “If I was Granit Xhaka, I would feel betrayed that Unai Emery has taken the captaincy away from me. I'd be shocked if he stays at Arsenal now.

“They will probably look to sell him in January and he will probably be only too happy to go.

“It's a big statement to make, doing that. I'm surprised Emery did it.

“And then to give it to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he sometimes doesn't start games is baffling.

“The manager is making strange decisions. I think the pressure is getting to him.

“If he was going to change the captain he should have done it straight away.

“Instead he's let this slow drama drag on. It was just really badly handled by Arsenal. So poor all round."