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Aubameyang succeeds Granit Xhaka as Arsenal captain

Unai Emery addressed a press conference last evening ahead of Arsenal’s Europa League game away at Vitoria SC.

The Gunners boss has been under pressure following a poor run of results. The 3-2 win over Vitoria at home two weeks ago is the team’s only win in their last five matches.

Rumours have circled about Emery’s future, with Jose Mourinho and Chris Wilder among the names linked with Arsenal in recent weeks.

A draw at home to Wolves at the weekend did little to quell the ill feeling at the Emirates Stadium after captain Granit Xhaka was booed off the field against Crystal Palace the previous week, and the Swiss international is yet to make an appearance since that game.

Emery will at least have an almost entirely fully-fit squad to choose from with Reiss Nelson making his comeback from a knee injury to allow the boss a full roster to choose from – youngster Folarin Balogun will be the only player missing after picking up an ankle injury.

Our senior writer James Benge will be on hand to hear from Emery. You can follow every word he says below.

Squad confirmed

There’s several big name absentees, most of all Granit Xhaka, but there should also be enough in this squad to get the three points that would wrap up qualification for Arsenal:

Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno, Emiliano Martinez

Defenders: Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney, Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac.

Midfielders: Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Lucas Torriera, Dani Ceballos, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock

Forwards: Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson, Bukayo Saka

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