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Arsenal fans split over Xhaka as captain as Arteta hints he is one of two names who could replace Aubameyang

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ARSENAL fans are divided by the prospect of Granit Xhaka being re-appointed club captain.

The Switzerland international is in the frame to become skipper again after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the role.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameuyang has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincyCredit: GETTY
Granit Xhaka is in line to be re-appointed club skipperCredit: AP
But Gunners fans are torn about the midfielder being given the armband backCredit: GETTY

But the possibility of Xhaka being given the armband again isn’t something the Emirates faithful are in complete agreement about.

One fan tweeted: “Xhaka should have still been captain. He’s the best option even now.”

Another said: “GRANIT XHAKA AS MY CLUB CAPTAIN PLEASE I BEG AND YES I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES.”

And another said: “Xhaka should be captain. Plays weekly, in his prime, is a leader generally & on the pitch in terms of buildup.

“Been here 6 years. Gabriel vice & becomes captain once Xhaka goes in 18 months.”

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The anti-Xhaka portion of the Arsenal fan base, however, also voiced their concerns on social media.

“One said: “Having Xhaka and Laca as captains makes no sense.

“Xhaka will be captain till he gets his red card on 65′ by which time Laca is already subbed off cos he got the meat sweats.”

Anoher said: “Correct decision to strip Aubameyang unfortunately. If we’re all being honest, he’s probably not captain material.

“Hoping for [Kieran] Tierney as replacement. Think Xhaka would be a poor decision.”

And another said: “Odegaard or Tierney for me. It can’t be Xhaka.

“If you’re really building for the future, you have to pick someone who is going to be a big part of it.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was relieved of his duties as captain on MondayCredit: GETTY

Aubameyang was relieved of his duties as captain on Tuesday following his third ‘disciplinary breach’ and will not be part of the squad to face West Ham on Wednesday evening.

Gunners boss Arteta said: “I don’t have much more to say. It’s a really clear statement from the club.

“It’s a decision we have made following the last incident with the player. This is where we stand.”

He later added: “He had to accept the decision.

We need a bit of time. It needs a bit of time to heal. For now, he’s not involved in the squad.”

When pressed on Aubameyang’s potential replacement, Arteta said: “Well we have the leadership group and we think that we have different players that are nominated to be captain in the last game it was Laca and we have Granit [Xhaka] as well who has been captain so we will follow that.

“Obviously, it is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to make any rash decision.

Mikel Arteta has yet to decided who will replace Aubameyang as skipperCredit: GETTY

“That leadership group is really strong, it is the one that communicates with myself and the coaching staff and with the club in a really clear and strong way.

“We are going to continue like that and that is one of the decisions that we made, to make that group a little bit better and try to educate them and try and get the right feedback all the time and build that trust and the strong culture around the club.

“It is working really well so we will continue to do that.”

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

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