Arsenal headcoach Unai Emery has stated his reason for appointing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his side's new skipper. The Spanish manager has attributed his motivation to confer the honor on the Gabonese striker on the back of the fact that he is experienced and is respected in the dressing room.
The need to name a new leader to bear the armband for the Gunners presented itself after former captain Granit Xhaka had the honor stripped off him. At the moment, the Swiss midfielder's future with the club is in serious doubt after sparking a dispute with his side's fan base during last month's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
Reports from England have indicated that the Arsenal players had a blind ballot to elect someone bear the armband in September. While Granit Xhaka became the eventual victor, Aubameyang had the second-highest number of endorsements and was followed by Hector Bellerin, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil respectively.
Addressing a news conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Leicester City, Unai Emery outlined the reason for handing the role to the former Borussia Dortmund star.
"He's the captain. Above all, I can remember how we did the process because last year the captains were Laurent Koscielny, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey and Nacho Monreal," the Arsenal boss said.
"They left the team - at the last moment as well, Koscielny. At that moment I decided, and also I used the characteristics to find a captain. After I started with Granit Xhaka because he has the quality to take the captain's responsibility.
"Then after the issue, I decided it was better for him not to. Next in line is Aubameyang. The second after him is Bellerin, third is Lacazette and the fourth is Mesut Ozil.
Back to the training pitches.
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"The first is Aubameyang because he has experience and he has the respect in the dressing room. "He was the top scorer last year in the Premier League and also I know he needs time to take that responsibility 100 per cent. But we are going to support him.
"Every player, we are going to support the four captains, and we are going to support him as our first captain because he has also made one extra step to achieve that responsibility. But for example, yesterday Sokratis said everybody can take responsibility as a captain.
He added: "We want to be a strong family here and I know for the supporters it is very important who is the first face, in front, with the captain's responsibility.
"I decided to give it to Aubameyang and everybody also agreed with that decision and now I am telling you he needs time to take that responsibility with confidence, but we give him that confidence, I give him that confidence. He has the quality and the values to do perfectly with that responsibility."
