Arsenal will have to consider stripping striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy if the 30-year-old decides to run down his contract, according to Martin Keown.

The former Gunners defender thinks there is a scenario where the London club will keep the forward if they can’t get a satisfactory transfer fee for the player. If that were to happen, Keown feels it wouldn’t be right for the Gabonese international to continue as skipper:

“If they’re only going to get an offer of £20m-£30m then you have to consider whether you’re going to keep him there or not and whether the player has got the mental capacity to stay, but he can’t be captain because the message is the wrong one to the rest of the group.”

Arsenal have yet to offer Aubameyang a new contract, with his current deal expiring next summer, and the feeling is that the forward could well leave if the likes of Barcelona or Inter Milan follow up their reported interest.

However, if no bid matches the Gunners’ reported valuation, the club may look to keep him even if it means he can leave on a free. It will then be up to head coach Mikel Arteta to decide if he is the right man to wear the armband.