Arsenal’s season already looks promising with such key transfers so far (Zinchenko,Vieira, Jesus, Marquinhos and Turner) but among other things, there is one big decision for Mikel Arteta – the captaincy. The Gunners supporters always think about such club legends as Tony Adams (captain for 15 years) or Patrick Vieira or the crowd’s favourite Thierry Henry, but in reality, over the last few years, Arsenal had luck with captains as much as they had with trophies.Xhaka being subbed off pic.twitter.com/VIQsnhFBoC— MGH (@MGH) October 27, 2019 Just last season, the Gunners had two captains: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, and they are no longer at the club. The Gabonian international had this title for almost two years but was eventually stripped off captaincy by Arteta after a series of discipline issues, and Arteta felt it was too much. He was dethroned in December 2021, he was gone in January 2021. Lacazette took the armband, but he was not given another contract and he left the club in June. And the captains before them were certainly not up to the standards of this great club.Arsenal fill City’s coffers: Zinchenko signed, the Gunners have already spent over 130 millionWhy was Aubameyang appointed captain in the first place by then coach Unai Emery? Well, just because Granit Xhaka made one of the stupidest moves in the history of any captaincy. Annoyed by the booing of the crowd during a disappointing draw with Crystal Palace, the Swiss international threw Arsenal’s jersey on the grass and shouted ’F’’k off’ to the fans. And he was the captain before him? It was Laurent Koscielny, but he lasted only one season since he was injured for the biggest part of the season, but then decided he wanted to leave the club, even thou he was the captain. Koscielny refused to travel on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States in order to force through a move to Bordeaux. Needless to say, it didn’t sit well with the supporters.Xhaka opens up about his troublesome relationship with the fansThere are other examples too. Robin Van Persie was the captain for only one season since he decided he wanted to leave and signed for Manchester United the following season. William Gallas was the captain after Thierry Henry, but was not a good teammate since he had a big row with Gilberto Silva in the dressing room. He gave an interview in which he revealed tensions in the dressing room and criticized younger players for lacking the courage necessary to succeed. In the end, he signed for the arch-rivals Tottenham.##NAJAVA_MECA_6521286##Sometimes being chosen the captain meant the curse of being injured for the most part of your captaincy, which happened to Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen or Per Mertesacker. So, all in all, a very tough decision for Arteta, but also for the player who will end up being the captain in the end. So far, the candidates are Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney. The Norwegian organizes his teammates and Arteta, also a former Arsenal captain values him very much, but is not the most vocal player. In case he decides against the former Real player, Kieran Tierney would be the next best option.
