Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is amongst an illustrious list of footballers this season. Along with the likes of Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, Manchester City’s Fernandinho, Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, the Arsenal striker is the captain of a Premier League club. Furthermore, taking national teams into account – where he’s also Gabon captain – Aubameyang is the leader of his nation just like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are for Argentina and Portugal respectively. Whilst the pair have tasted success on the international stage, there’s one accolade they can’t lay claim to – and that is the honour of being the ‘coolest captain’. That is reserved for Aubameyang.
Pierre Emetic Aubameyang said: “I’m the coolest captain in the league, maybe in the world! To tell the truth I try to be an example, I think that is the most important part of being a captain and trying to inspire the young people in the squad but also the older people as well. I try to give my best and give whatever I can for the club. This is the job, when you are the captain, this is the job: you have to take it, to accept it and deal with it. It’s a nice job, it is the nicest job in football. Definitely. I think it’s really important [to speak to the team] and I think everyone is expecting me to communicate a lot but I’m a quiet guy, a shy guy, but that’s okay! I try to improve on that and definitely I try to speak, most importantly in the dressing room, I think that is the biggest part for me. I try always to be positive and give support to the guys.”
For the best part of a decade, there has been a debate surrounding Messi and Ronaldo as to who is the better player. However, with this bold claim, Aubameyang may have brilliantly inserted himself into a fresh debate as to who is the coolest captain of either a club or national team. What is not up for debate is how Mikel Arteta has watched Aubameyang develop his leadership skills since returning to Arsenal in 2019.
Mikel Arteta said: “For me it is a click. It is a combination that realising that his role has to go well beyond that. What was good, or very good, two or three years ago, with his role in this team, at this club, it is not enough. He had to take a step forward. I would say the same with Laca, [Lacazette] look what he is transmitting, not just doing or playing, what he is transmitting. For me that is really, really important. They lead by example and not only there but as well at the training ground. Certain things, a role they could have had three years ago in the squad, now it has changed. Human beings change themselves every six months, they have all new selves, and it’s incredible so we are able to adapt very quickly and manipulate and change our minds very quickly as well. They are doing that for the benefit of the club, but for sure for the benefit of themselves [too].”
