Paul Merson believes that manager Mikel Arteta has made the incorrect decision in selecting Alexandre Lacazette as his latest captain.
The Arsenal legend insists that left-back Kieran Tierney is tailor-made for this role and argues that only players who are going to be part of the club's long-term vision should be considered, hence why Merson has surprisingly gone with Ben White as another potential candidate.
"Kieran Tierney should be Arsenal captain – because you can’t put your faith in Alexandre Lacazette," Merson said to the Daily Star.
"And my old club should start sorting out better contracts for young players like Bukayo Saka right now instead of wasting their money like they have before.
"They moved one step forward getting rid of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his massive wages – but giving the captaincy to Lacazette was going two steps back.
"Give it to someone like Tierney and start building now.
"I like Tierney. I think he’ll run through a brick wall for you. I think Ben White could be captain as well. One of those two. They are there for the long run. Why not?
"Lacazette is 30 years old now. I think he needs to show some leadership. But I do not agree with him being made captain one iota.
"He’s not going to be there next season. What’s the point? That worries me. It makes me wonder if they want to offer him a new contract.
"That would be a mistake. Of course it would. They haven’t looked like challenging for the title with Lacazette up front have they? He hasn’t always been able to even get in the team.
"His contract is up. You’d have to offer him a fortune if you give him a new one. And he hasn’t ripped it up for the last few years so why would he do it for the next few?"
It does however look increasingly likely that Arteta will be forced to choose a new captain in the summer, since Lacazette's contract is set to expire in June of this year whilst there is also the chance that vice-captain Granit Xhaka could leave at the end of the season, with Roma interested in acquiring the Swiss international.
