Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes that either David Luiz or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should be the club’s next permanent captain.

Manager Unai Emery has yet to announce who will be given the armband, but Merson thinks it has to be someone like Luiz who has won trophies and is a first-team regular:

“David Luiz has got to be captain, he’s a serial winner. People have a go at him because one week he’ll be a 2/10 and the next a 9/10, but he’s going to play every week.”

Aubameyang would be Merson’s other preferred candidate, although the ex-Gunner says he doesn’t think the captaincy should be handed to someone in the frontline:

“I’m not the greatest lover of a forward being the captain, but [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang’s another one. Those front three should pick themselves straight away and you go from there – they’ll play every week, if they’re fit.”

Granit Xhaka has been taking the responsibility so far this season but he has come in for heavy criticism for his performances.

His substitution against Aston Villa was welcomed by the Emirates crowd, and the Swiss international would not be a popular choice to become captain.

Luiz is an experienced player and has character, but he’s only been at the club for six weeks. Will Emery hand the armband to a new signing? We shall have to wait and see.