Speaking on The Football Show on Sky Sports (Tuesday, 10:10 am), former Gunners defender Matthew Upson believes Rob Holding would be an interesting choice to succeed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal skipper.
Arsenal’s terrible run in November and December raised a ton of questions over the lack of leadership at the club. Aubameyang isn’t the most vocal captain we’ve ever had, but he did lead us to two trophies last year.
The Gabon star will likely retain the armband as long as he is at the club. However, Arteta or whoever is on the hot seat then will have a tough decision to make regarding Auba’s successor.
Upson believes Holding would be an interesting option. He feels that the Englishman is a lot more vocal than Aubameyang and has a ‘real stature’ as a player at the Emirates.
He said: “I feel he (Auba) leads by example more than probably vocally or how he communicates with the players. I don’t see him so much in that way. He played so well at the end of last season that his performances, more than anything, led by example.”
“His impact as captain may have been a little bit watered down at the start of this season. There are other players in this team, like Rob Holding, for instance, who I think is very vocal.”
“He plays at the back. He’s got real stature as a player. Someone like him is interesting to think well, he looks to me, in the future possibly, to be captain material for Arsenal.”
Arsenal Insider’s view:
Kieran Tierney is the fans’ choice to be the next Arsenal skipper. The Scotsman has shown his leadership skills on the pitch time and again over the last few months, but he might have to wait a bit.
Hector Bellerin is the vice captain currently and he has been at Arsenal a lot longer. Holding will arguably come next in line, but irrespective of who wears the armband, all three of them have to stand up and lead the side in their own different way.
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