Mikel Arteta reportedly has three candidates to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal captain.
Recall the Gabon international was left out of the squad against Southampton due to a disciplinary breach over the weekend and could now have the skipper’s armband taken off him.
The Athletic claims the striker was given permission to fly abroad for personal reasons but arrived back late and due to Covid-19 protocols, he missed training on Friday and was dropped for the 3-0 victory over the Saints on Saturday.
Aubameyang’s captaincy is hanging by a thread, never mind his future at the Emirates, and the general consensus is that he should be stripped of the armband.
Former Gunners hero Martin Keown said: “The captaincy is in question now. You can’t keep being late or disappearing on trips abroad and not coming back on time, your team needs you and he’s not there when you need him most so I expect that to change.”
Arteta refused to discuss whether he would demote the forward and look to appoint a new skipper, but it’s a genuine possibility that Arsenal could have a new club captain.
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The Spaniard said: “He had a disciplinary breach, that applies to everybody. That’s a non-negotiable and when that happens he’s out of the team. Whatever happens in the dressing room, I cannot share. I am sorry.
“I’m telling you the reason, I cannot lie, it was that, this is where I stand. From my side, I will never [say what the breach was.]”
While there is no standout candidate to take the armband off Aubameyang at the moment, three stars have been listed as the potential candidates.
According to The Athletic, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Gabriel have all stepped up to become leaders to fill the void left by David Luiz who left the club at the end of last season.
The publication believe Arteta has unearthed Ramsdale, White, and Gabriel as his new leaders – making them the three leading picks to replace Aubameyang as skipper.
