COMMENT: So why does a manager select his captain? To reflect his values? To represent him on the pitch? Or is it for a nice write up in the local rag and some smiley face approval on social media...?
The debate around Arsenal's new skipper really should've been a non-starter. Captain of his country. Popular with teammates. And 100 per cent behind his manager. Granit Xhaka was the clear and obvious choice. He may be a lightening rod for fans, but Emery isn't one for letting the outside sway his opinion. And just knowing the Basque's history, if given the choice - as he did with Ivan Rakitic and Coke at Sevilla - he will look to his midfield for a candidate to issue instructions.
No matter the debate around Xhaka and his current form, the big plus from this decision is that it's actually been done. The club now has it's leader. It's figurehead. No more of this wishy-washy leadership group lark. The captain's armband is no longer the stuff of pass-the-parcel. It now has it's owner - for this season at least.
What's more the player wanted it. Xhaka openly courting the prospect of taking on the captaincy as soon as Laurent Koscielny threw his wobbler. The Swiss talking up the opportunity not as a way to cash in - which you see from many players of clubs of similar stature to Arsenal - but for the honour.
That decisiveness from Xhaka. As much as it is from his manager for doing away the timeshare approach. It can only be positive for the club and the team. There's no false modesty here. No reluctant hero. Xhaka wanted the burden. He embraced the responsibility. Simply another sign of this Emery era being on the right track.
Of course, Xhaka's form is worth noting. But Emery has made the decision for the long-term - and based it on more than the Swiss' performances in the opening games of the season.
And the Gunners boss has company. Vladimir Petkovic, Switzerland's national team coach, handed the country's captaincy to Granit Xhaka also this season. And not unlike at Arsenal, the decision sparked furious controversy - and has potentially cost the Nati their best player.
But like Emery, there's reasons why Petkovic went with Xhaka. And why he's prepared to lose Xherdan Shaqiri, the Liverpool attacker, in the process.
As the Nati's most experienced and decorated player, Shaqiri assumed it only natural that he'd succeed Stephan Lichtensteiner as the nation's skipper. But Petkovic had other ideas and his support of Xhaka has seen Shaqiri cry off from national team duty.
For his part, Xhaka was prepared to forego the job and publicly offered the armband to his older teammate if he was to return.
"If that's really the problem, then we can sit at a table. He and I," declared Xhaka. "I think we are mature enough to talk about it. If that's really the problem, he can have the captain's armband. No problem. For me it does not matter if I have the armband or not. I try to influence what a team can do in a team. With or without the captain's armband."
As selfless as a gesture it was, not everyone connected to Swiss football saw it that way. Several ex-players demanded Xhaka value the honour more. While some in the media warned the midfielder his actions offered the perception of stabbing Petkovic in the back. Of course, none of this was Xhaka's intentions. He simply wants the best for Switzerland.
As he and Emery do for Arsenal.
Inside the dressing room, the prime leadership alternative is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Who would be a popular choice. With fans. With ex-players. And with his sponsors...
But in the clinches, could the Gabon international be counted on?
He may be disappointed - and he expressed as much on social media. But Aubameyang's brother Willy (who was a bloody good player when coming through at AC Milan) must know it was never going to work out. Just this season, with his antics on his phone, the Gunners striker had supported the sale of Xhaka and the trashing of his manager. This all as the captaincy was in play. Aubameyang's actions weren't the stuff of a man seeking leadership and responsibility.
The armband at Arsenal. It's history. It's occupiers. It isn't the stuff of 'likes' and smiley faces. The club. It's old Marble Halls. It's bigger than that.
Xhaka has a lot to live up to. But one thing he won't ignore is the gravity of the honour his manager has granted him. Which is perhaps why, despite the form lapse, Emery has gone with the Swiss as Arsenal's new captain.
