Owen Hargreaves urges Unai Emery to drop Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka

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Owen Hargreaves has told BT Sport’s Champions League highlights show (BT Sport 3, Thursday, 10am) that Arsenal boss Unai Emery should consider playing Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi – and drop captain Granit Xhaka.

Xhaka, 27, has started eight of nine Premier League matches for Arsenal this season. He has also been named the Arsenal skipper after teammates came together to vote on who should wear the armband – following the exit of Laurent Koscielny.

The Swiss midfielder remains first choice but could be rested against Portuguese side Vitoria on Thursday night in the Europa League, which may see Torreira come into the side in place of the former Borussia Monchengladbach star.

Ex-England international Hargreaves has urged Emery to shake up his midfield after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night, and bring in Torreira alongside impressice French youngster Guendouzi.

TBR’s view – Hargreaves is right, Arsenal’s midfield is too passive

Guendouzi is an excellent central midfielder and is more than capable of anchoring the Gunners side in the middle of the park. Alongside the Frenchman, Arsenal need more of a box-to-box midfielder.

Torreira is the ideal candidate, scoring the odd goal including one against Liverpool this season and last term against north London rivals Tottenham. Xhaka, a £35million signign (Mail) and Guendouzi combined are too defensive, as proved on Monday.