The Arsenal dressing room has reportedly been left ‘divided’ over Unai Emery’s decision to appoint Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as club captain, with some questioning the forward’s suitability for the role amid links to YouTube fan channel AFTV.
The Arsenal manager opted to strip midfielder Granit Xhaka of the captaincy following his clash with supporters during the draw with Crystal Palace last month, the Switzerland international telling the home crowd to ‘f*** off’ and cupping his ear to jeers as he was substituted at the Emirates.
Emery was initially wary of punishing the 27-year-old but has now opted to remove Xhaka as captain, naming Aubameyang as the replacement for a player who has yet to return to first-team action following the incident.
Xhaka was voted in as club captain following Laurent Koscielny’s departure last summer and according to The Athletic, the decision to remove him and replace him with Aubameyang has not universally been accepted by the Arsenal squad.
The Gabon international has been one of Arsenal‘s most consistent performers during their disappointing start to the campaign, though his affiliation with AFTV is believed to be a concern to the squad.
Aubameyang has previously liked Instagram posts from the channel which have caused controversy – including one for Emery to be dismissed – whilst he has a close relationship with one of the channel’s biggest contributors, Troopz.
Image: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s recent Instagram activity, liking a post of @AFTVMedia’s Troopz suggesting the club should sell midfielder Granit Xhaka in January. #afc pic.twitter.com/nVwmFzx3ud
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) September 7, 2019
Troopz has been vocal in his calls for Emery to be sacked in recent weeks and Aubameyang’s links to him and the channel are said to have left the Arsenal dressing room unimpressed as they seek unity in a bid to turn their season around.
Read – Xhaka insists he is still ‘proud’ to play for Arsenal despite ‘hurtful’ reaction from fans