Patrick Vieira says Arsenal should be looking for a ‘positive leader’ who will ‘set an example’ for the rest of the team after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was relieved of captaincy duties.
Aubameyang was omitted from the matchday squad for Arsenal’s recent 3-0 win over Southampton due to a disciplinary issue, the latest in a long line of breaches across the player’s two-year spell with the armband.
It has since emerged Aubameyang reported late for duty after an authorised trip to France and he will not be considered for selection ahead of Arsenal’s game against West Ham.
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Arteta is yet to confirm who will take over from Aubameyang as skipper, but it’s believed Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Ramsdale, Ben White and Lacazette are all in contention to replace him.
‘We need a bit of time. It needs a bit of time to heal. For now he’s not involved in the squad,’ Arteta told reporters at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s derby at the Emirates.
‘What I can say right now is that we have made this decision which unfortunately is a tough one.
‘If I had to choose I wouldn’t like to be sitting here talking about that. The next one is that he’s not involved in the squad.’
The matter of Arsenal’s captaincy was raised at Vieira’s pre-match press conference ahead of Crystal Palace’s game with Southampton and he outlined what he feels managers should be looking for in a captain.
‘I think as a manager you always want your captain to be one of the leaders, a positive leader on and off the field,’ the Palace head coach told reporters.
‘You will want your captain to set the example and, obviously, the captain will always have, I believe, a special relationship with the manager.
‘But to have that you need to be a positive leader.’
