Patrick Vieira message to Mikel Arteta over Arsenal captain situation

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has delivered his verdict on Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang losing the Gunners captaincy.

On Tuesday, Arsenal confirmed in a statement that the 32-year-old forward “will no longer be” the Gunners captain.

“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed,” said the statement.

In addition, Arteta will not consider Aubameyang for selection for Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with West Ham.

Vieira, widely deemed one of Arsenal’s greatest captains of all time, currently manages Crystal Palace.

And on Tuesday, Sky Sports asked the Gunners legend about Arteta’s decision on Aubameyang.

“I think as a manager you always want your captain to be one of the leaders,” the outlet quotes him as saying.

“I would say, a positive leader on and off the field.

“And you want your captain to set the example and obviously the captain always has, I believe, a special relationship with the manager.

“But to have that you need to be a positive leader.”

Has the Arsenal captaincy been a curse in recent years?

The Arsenal captaincy hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for a number of years.

Granit Xhaka was stripped of the armband two years ago, as was William Gallas back in 2008.

Vieira, Thierry Henry, Laurent Koscielny, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas all left Arsenal as captains, joining other clubs.

And Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker and Arteta himself suffered from numerous injuries during their captaincies.

Prior to Vieira, Tony Adams captained Arsenal between 1988 and 2002.