Arsenal: 6 candidates to take captaincy after Aubameyang

The decision has been made: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no longer the captain of Arsenal Football Club. A statement confirmed the news on Tuesday.

Falling foul to another disciplinary breach, not the first known such instance during his time at the club, his removal from the entire squad to face Southampton was the sternest punishment yet.

Arriving late to the North London Derby last season, Aubameyang was still handed a spot on the substitutes bench. That was where he stayed throughout the 2-1 win.

That infraction turned out not to be his first, hence the decision. Having a history of poor punctuality from his Borussia Dortmund days, the latest misdemeanour continues a trend of serial offending and much to his apparent reluctance, Arteta has taken significant action.

6 candidates to take over the Arsenal captaincy after Mikel Arteta strips Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the armband

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of a huge Premier League encounter with West Ham on Wednesday, the manager revealed that the armband duties will fall onto the ‘leadership group’ that is in place at the club.

Alexandre Lacazette will be first choice captain, Granit Xhaka will be the vice-captain, and Rob Holding will be third in line. Who dons the armband will depend on who is on the pitch at the time. But this might not be final.

There is every possibility that none of the trio will be at the club come the end of the season: Lacazette is sure to leave when his contract expires, Xhaka may still prefer to have one final challenge despite his short-term extension, and Holding can only stay content as an infrequent backup for so long.

With the position likely to be reviewed at the end of the season, talk among supporters has already emerged over who could assume the role permanently. Looking across the squad, six candidates stand out aside from the aforementioned ‘leadership group’ to become the new Arsenal captain.

1. Kieran Tierney

Before the latest batch of drama unfolded at Arsenal, and prior to briefly spending time on the bench in place of Nuno Tavares, Kieran Tierney was the outstanding candidate to assume the role once Aubameyang departed.

Last season he captured the supporters’ hearts as he nailed down a regular spot in the team. He showed his commitment on and off the pitch. When the results were poor and the general mood around the club was dire, he never shied away from facing the camera – and being candid doing so.

A battling character, one who wears shorts and a t-shirt in the snow and is no frills attached with his tesco carrier bags and casual dress sense, as inconsequential as these aspects may be they helped endear him to a fanbase who hadn’t seen a man of his ilk at the club for quite some time.

Aided by the fact he’s a fine footballer who isn’t afraid to get stuck into his teammates as much as his opponents on the pitch, he’s one of the standout candidates by supporters to take the armband. A leader by example, and a fine example he sets.

Is his injury record prohibitive? And, is he perhaps slightly too shy to take on the role? These are some of the more prominent concerns.

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2. Benjamin White

Signed in the summer for an eye-watering £50m, Arsenal’s decision to invest so heavily in Benjamin White was with the idea that he could become a club stalwart in central defence. That’s the goal of near enough every signing, but it was his emergence as an international footballer and suitability to the British core that urged the club to act.

As of yet, White hasn’t outright demonstrated much in the classic sense of ‘leadership’. He communicates on the pitch, of course, like every footballer should do, and oozes a confidence that is needed to take on such a role.

Him simply being a central defender will aid his case. Captains tend to be found through the spine of the team and historically some of the finest English skippers of the Premier League era have been central defenders. That symbolism may move him up a number of peoples’ lists.

But as someone who is generally considered quite shy away from the pitch and whose footballing life shuts off when he leaves the training ground (which is not in any way an issue) those minor aspects might work against him in this regard when compared to other players in the squad.

It’s entirely speculative, but would he even want it? Surely he would?

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3. Gabriel

If it’s a presence Arsenal are after then Gabriel will be someone catching a lot of gazes.

An absolute stalwart in the heart of defence, the development he’s shown over the past 12 months has been outstanding. He’s come into this season after an injury layoff and been the best defender at the club; an monster in his position.

Hard-working, reliable and commanding, there are a growing number of calls for Gabriel to take the armband at Arsenal from his increasingly smitten fanbase.

When David Luiz left in the summer the coaching staff were intrigued to see who would step up and offer leadership, being pleasantly surprised by Gabriel taking that responsibility on the pitch. He barks orders relentlessly and has the authority someone like Aubameyang did not.

However, the language barrier is key. His English is improving every week, but is not believed to be at the level required yet.

While that area of his game will improve, there is also the worry that at this stage of his development while still relatively new to the country and not fluent in the language, it could impact his performances with the additional responsibility.

All of those factors being speculative, of course.

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4. Aaron Ramsdale

Another shout for the armband is unsurprisingly going to Aaron Ramsdale. Known for having some brilliant characters down the years – Ian Wright, Ray Parlour, Santi Cazorla etc – Ramsdale is already a cult hero and a firm fan favourite.

This is someone brimming with confidence.

The way he interacts with the fans and his teammates on the pitch is unlike anything seen in north London, and while behind the scenes it isn’t known how much of a leader he is, on the pitch there is no doubting his quality in that regard.

Constantly communicating with his teammates, whether positively or negatively, he’s forming bonds with players and fans left, right and centre. He’s someone you’d be happy to have represent this club.

He’s also been here for a matter of months. Of course, come the end of the season that will have changed and there will have been more time to integrate, but he’s still a young goalkeeper new to the club so it’s a big decision to make.

At least there would be no hesitations on whether he’s going to be playing every week or not.

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5. Martin Odegaard

A very strong candidate for the captaincy, one that is less radical than it may first appear.

Starting with the obvious, Martin Odegaard is the captain of his national team. Handed the role at only 22 years old is an almighty honour for someone of his young age. But, the reasons behind it are fully justified.

Odegaard is a leader. Plain and simple.

This is someone who is in constant dialogue on the pitch, unmoved by who he is talking to or what exactly it is he tells them to do. On matchdays he can be heard shouting at Lacazette to track back, screaming at Pepe to cover the wide areas and instructing Aubameyang on where to press. Vocal, fearless and set to be a mainstay in this team for many years to come, there is no doubting he will be among the candidates should it come down to a permanent decision.

Are there any arguments against him taking the role? Longevity will be pointed to even if he’s effectively been at the club since January, although the majority of cases built against him becoming captain are likely to stem more from feeling that other people in the squad being deserving of it.

His leadership qualities can’t be begrudged, that’s for sure.

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6. Bukayo Saka

For anyone old enough to remember the early Cesc Fabregas days, this is far from the left-field shout it may seem.

What are Arsenal trying to build? It’s pretty much an entire new team. It’s also one centred around a British core of players with generous dash of Hale End. Nobody in the squad encapsulates the spirit of what is trying to be formed more than Bukayo Saka. He is Arsenal at the moment, in more ways than one.

If the aim is to find someone who represents everything positive about the club then Saka would be announced as the captain tomorrow. He loves Arsenal, and Arsenal loves him.

He’s also only 20 years old. Placing the weight of the never ending soap opera that is Arsenal on this young man’s shoulders could have an adverse effect. He isn’t necessarily a leader either, but then again, nor was Aubameyang.

Whoever is selected won’t be universally agreed upon, but as the captaincy is never going to be some season-defining moment or the decision that takes Arsenal back into the Champions League, then why not just give it to the most likebale player in the squad (world)?

You wouldn’t rule him out of the running, put it that way, and it might prompt another urged contract extension with a £200m buyout clause.

If Arsenal want to project a new image moving forward, there is no better face to front it.