The Gunners made a shocking 58-word statement confirming the decision to drop their former skipper.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has lost the Arsenal captaincy after his disciplinary breach at the weekend.
The club announced the decision on Tuesday, confirming Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has stripped Aubameyang of the skipper’s armband. The statement, however, made no mention of who would replace the Gabonese star.
So, without further ado, Ace Football looks at the current favorites to succeed Aubameyang at the Emirates.
Alexandre Lacazette
The 30-year-old is one of the senior players and has sported the captain’s armband in the past, including in the 3-0 win over Southampton at the weekend.
At best, Lacazette would only be a short-term solution. The striker’s contract ends at the end of the season, and all signs suggest he will leave. But he continues to give everything on the pitch and may get more of a regular starting role, depending on what happens next to Aubameyang.
Appointing Lacazette could also give manager Arteta more time to mold a possible long-term successor.
Kieran Tierney
The Scot is pretty much everyone’s tip to become a future Arsenal captain, but is now the right time?
Nobody can question Tierney’s impact. The former Celtic left-back has been arguably the club’s most reliable performer since his €27 million arrival in 2019. He has already shown all the qualities of a natural leader in a squad that doesn’t really boast any traditional leaders.
Of course, Tierney’s promotion could be seen as a setback for Nuno Tavares. However, given the Scot’s injury problems in the past, it’s unlikely the Portuguese won’t get enough game time.
Gabriel
The Brazilian has come a long way since he first joined the club and could be in with a chance of becoming the next Arsenal captain.
Gabriel has impressed alongside fellow defender Ben White for both his performances and authority in the Gunners backline this season, earning praise from Arteta himself.
Granit Xhaka
This one would be a debatable, controversial, and bold call from Arteta.
No Arsenal fan has forgotten Granit Xhaka’s outburst against Crystal Palace two years ago. It was because of the Swiss’ foul-mouthed rant he lost the captaincy to Aubameyang in the first place.
But Xhaka has won plaudits for the way he has bounced back to re-establish himself in the team. His performances earned him a new contract in the summer until June 2024.
It’s worth pointing out as well that the Arsenal squad voted for Xhaka as their captain before he was dismissed. The 29-year-old has the experience, the team’s respect, and also still skippers the Swiss national team.
Martin Odegaard
The former Real Madrid midfielder is only 22 years of age, yet he became Norway’s captain in 2021 and has impressed in the role.
Odegaard is also enjoying a good run in the team at the moment and has already been marked as a potential Gunners leader, alongside Sambi Lokonga, by none other than Arteta.
Ben White
The 24-year-old has endured a bit of an up-and-down start following his €50 million summer move from Brighton.
It’s clear, though, Arteta views White as a long-term solution to his defense. The Englishman has made steady progress under the Spaniard, and he is building a solid partnership with Gabriel.
Aaron Ramsdale
Another name said to be in the mix is Ramsdale.
The goalkeeper didn’t take long to replace Bernd Leno as the club’s No.1, having delivered some truly brilliant performances. His bubbly personality and passion have reportedly made their mark on the squad.
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