Why Alexandre Lacazette should be named Arsenal captain if Arteta strips Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the armband. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Arsenal are preparing for what has taken over the mantle for ‘biggest game of the season‘ as they host West Ham on Wednesday, and yet so much of the talk centres around matters off the pitch.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has found himself in hot water, again. While his infraction may appear to be minimal, it is not the first time he’s be found guilty of breaching the rules.
Returning late from a scheduled trip abroad, Mikel Arteta’s iron fist stamped the law down hard on the captain and he was omitted from the squad that won 3-0 against Southampton, with his inclusion in Monday’s training session unknown.
Not only has his involvement in the team come under discussion, his claim to the armband has too.
Why Alexandre Lacazette should be named Arsenal captain if Arteta strips Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the armband
Never an archetypal leader, he was given the captaincy when Granit Xhaka was stripped of it almost solely down to him being the best player at the club at the time. It was the logical move. Over two years have passed since, with performances dipping, and the goals drying up. He said upon signing his new contract that he wanted to become a legend at the club. Mounting disciplinary issues erode such aspirations.
A large contingent of the fanbase would like to see him step down as the club captain.
If he were to, who would replace him? The candidates to take over the role in the team are aplenty, albeit without standout quintessential leader figures.
Kieran Tierney is a popular choice, as is Gabriel who is as close to a vocal and commanding presence on the pitch more in line with the historic makeup of a Premier League captain.
Elsewhere there are shouts for Aaron Ramsdale to take over the armband, as well as some for Martin Odegaard who is no stranger to leading on and off the pitch as he is captain of the Norwegian national side despite having yet to turn 23 years old.
Benjamin White gets a few mentions to, with none of the aforementioned players being over the age of 24. That’s not stopped Arsenal in the past, but it’s also a sign of what kind of squad Arsenal are building. All of those names were either signed in the summer or tied down to new long-term contracts.
What about Granit Xhaka? The biggest ‘leader’ of all in terms of seniority and presence, were it not for the unsavoury history of the Swiss and the armband then it might have been a simple decision for Arteta to make.
But no. There is one standout candidate should Aubameyang be rid of his duties: Alexandre Lacazette. There are reasons as to why.
Continued on next page…
#ARSSOU</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://t.co/3J9bBlShYy">pic.twitter.com/3J9bBlShYy
<p>— Alexandre Lacazette (@LacazetteAlex) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://twitter.com/LacazetteAlex/status/1469752454665416708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 11, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Why Alexandre Lacazette should be named Arsenal captain if Arteta strips Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the armband</h2>
<p>Never an archetypal leader, he was given the captaincy when Granit Xhaka was stripped of it almost solely down to him being the best player at the club at the time. It was the logical move. Over two years have passed since, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/08/arsenal-difference-aubameyang-lacazette/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with performances dipping</a>, and the goals drying up. He said upon signing his new contract that he wanted to become a legend at the club. Mounting disciplinary issues erode such aspirations.</p>
<p>A large contingent of the fanbase would like to see him step down as the club captain.</p>
<p>If he were to, who would replace him? The candidates to take over the role in the team are aplenty, albeit without standout quintessential leader figures.</p>
<p>Kieran Tierney is a popular choice, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/10/16/arsenal-aubameyang-captain-candidates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as is Gabriel</a> who is as close to a vocal and commanding presence on the pitch more in line with the historic makeup of a <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> captain.</p>
<p>Elsewhere there are shouts for Aaron Ramsdale to take over the armband, as well as some for Martin Odegaard who is no stranger to leading on and off the pitch as he is captain of the Norwegian national side despite having yet to turn 23 years old.</p>
<p>Benjamin White gets a few mentions to, with none of the aforementioned players being over the age of 24. That’s not stopped Arsenal in the past, but it’s also a sign of what kind of squad Arsenal are building. All of those names were either signed in the summer or tied down to new long-term contracts.</p>
<p>What about Granit Xhaka? The biggest ‘leader’ of all in terms of seniority and presence, were it not for the unsavoury history of the Swiss and the armband then it might have been a simple decision for Arteta to make.</p>
<p>But no. There is one standout candidate should Aubameyang be rid of his duties: Alexandre Lacazette. There are reasons as to why.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Why Laca should be captain </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121703" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/13/lacazette-named-arsenal-captain-auba/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1234868097-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on August 25, 2021 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Lacazette is the Best Candidate for Captain on a Short-Term Basis</h2>
<p>Why would you hand the captain’s armband to someone who is leaving the club in little over six months and can literally agree to move to another club as soon as January?</p>
<p>Because it’s not a permanent decision, and is the call best suited to maintaining the closest notion of equilibrium at the club should Aubameyang no longer hold that honour.</p>
<p>Lacazette will, and should, be leaving. While the role of a captain at a club like Arsenal is overblown in terms of importance, it’s a decision that needn’t be made permanently just yet. This could be the ideal half-season to see who feels they warrant it. Arteta can observe those on the pitch and in training with even closer detail knowing there is a vacancy coming up, and until that moment comes there is no better person to share the load.</p>
<p>Everyone knows Lacazette, everyone respects Lacazette, and while supporters aren’t exactly enamoured with his performances, he’s widely loved by everyone. An exceptional professional who never leaves anything on the pitch, he speaks well on every occasion he’s asked to.</p>
<p>The captain is effectively an ambassador for the club. Hector Bellerin was someone supporters could be proud to have represent Arsenal. The same goes for Lacazette regardless of what one’s opinion may be of him as a footballer.</p>
<p>Furthermore, <em>if </em>this decision is made and there is more punishment in store for Aubameyang, we can expect that Lacazette will be featuring heavily in his stead. If the minutes are there for him with greater frequency then there is even more reason for him to wear the armband.</p>
<p>Xhaka and Lacazette both started against Southampton and, just as was seen against Everton, it was the Frenchman leading the team out. He’s worn it numerous times before. It never weighs him down.</p>
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<p>Should Arteta go down this route – it’s not a decision that is expected, to be honest – then putting a hold on a final decision until the summer is the smartest route to take. And in that instance, there is one clear candidate to see the season out on his Arsenal swansong.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
