Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reportedly lost the support of some of his Arsenal team-mates to continue as captain after his latest disciplinary breach.
The Arsenal forward was dropped from the team by Mikel Arteta for Saturday’s 3-0 victory against Southampton after returning late from an authorised trip abroad earlier in the week.
It is not the first time that Aubameyang’s time-keeping has come into question and this incident – which Arteta confirmed as a ‘disciplinary’ problem before the game – has only heightened the tension between the duo.
Aubameyang was appointed club skipper under Unai Emery and he kept the position when Arteta replaced the Villarreal manager but his reign has been far from smooth.
The Gabon skipper held the club to ransom over signing a new three-year contract in 2020 but his displays since putting pen-to-paper on that extension have been below-par and the Daily Mail claim there are huge doubts within the squad over his suitability as captain.
While Aubameyang commands respect from his team-mates for his career so far, there are major concerns over his application and suitability as a leader.
But, it’s claimed any move to remove Aubameyang as captain could cause more harm than good at the Emirates as some in the squad still stand by the former Dortmund star.
Either way, the relationship between Aubameyang and Arteta has deteriorated to a point where they are said to only share a ‘working’ relationship and his situation could come to a head at the end of the campaign, when he will only have a year left on his deal.
