The Arsenal captain curse strikes again! Here has been the awkward ending to the relationship between Arsenal and their captains since 2008

It started over 13years ago during the tenure of the legendary Arsene Wenger and now after a couple of managers since the departure of the Frenchman, the captain curse continues to haunt Arsenal.

Williams Gallas was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy for his outspoken nature.

Photo Credits: PA:Press Association

After the departure of Thierry Henry in 2007, the club have found it difficult with the other players named as captain so far. It is either a dip in form or injury problems. The first instance however was a completely different scenario. Here is a list of the players who have been affected by this curse.

Williams Gallas - August 2007 to November 2008

The Frenchman was stripped of the captaincy for his outspoken nature. From the start, his move to the club from Chelsea was a topic of controversy and the man lived his time at the club never free of it. He criticized his teammates with the likes of Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri some of his victims.

“I was probably one of the older players in the dressing room so I naturally became a leader in that team and I tried my best. Unfortunately it didn’t happen exactly how I wanted it to all of the time, in particular the game against Birmingham City springs to mind, but I don’t like to talk about that day.

I was really passionate, and maybe sometimes that passion went too far. Sometimes it helped me and sometimes it didn’t.” Gallas said when admitting his fault in the incident that happened in a league game with Tottheham back in 2008.

He was stripped of the armband and after his apology, things went on for a while but his outspoken nature will not be completely cured, he left Arsenal in the summer of 2010 as a free agent and to spoil matters, he joined the the club's fiercest rival, Tottenham Hotspur.

Cesc Fabregas - November 2008 to August 2011

Fabregas enjoyed a successful spell as the captain of the club having took over from Williams Gallas. However, the pressure and disappointment of lack of silverware made the Spaniard leave the club at a time they still needed him.

Much to the displeasure of the fans, Fabregas returned to the Premier League three years later and joined London rivals Chelsea. The club let their displeasure known by hauling down a banner of the Spaniard later in the 2014-15 season.

Fabregas is still considered one of the favourites at the club but many has not forgiven him for forsaking the club in a time of need.

Robin van Persie - August 2011 to July 2012

After the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, Robin van Persie was named the next captain of the side. The Dutch striker has been with the club since 20014 but his time has been hampered by injuries until what was his last two seasons at the club.

After the end of the 2011-12 season with a year left on his contract, Van Persie announced that he would not be signing a new contract with Arsenal. The Gunners were forced to sell to their direct Manchester United, a rivals for £22.5million.

His departure was was not well digested by the Gunners faithfuls as they labeled him 'a snake' and booed him whenever he plays against them. Van Persie also rubbed salts on injury by celebrating when he found the back of the net for United against The Gunners.

Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates after scoring against Arsenal. Photograph: Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images.

Thomas Vermaelen - August 2012 to August 2014

Vermaelen was able to make 25 starts in the league in his first year as the club's captain but severe injuries the season after limited him to only seven starts as he ended that season with 14 league appearances.

He left the club to play for Barcelona at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Mikel Arteta - August 2014 to July 2016

Mikel Arteta had been an Arsenal player for three years and has made at least 29 league appearances in each of those seasons before he was named the club's captain before the start of the 2014-15 season. Injuries started to plague his career from that moment onwards.

He managed just 16 league appearances over two seasons before finally calling time on his career at the end of the 2015-16 season. He left the club, turning down a chance to serve as Arsene Wenger’s assistant to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He has since returned to Arsenal and is currently the manager of the club.

Per Mertsesacker - July 2016 to May 2018

Per Mertsesacker was on a four month injury before the start of the 2016-17 season but that did not hinder Arsene Wenger appointing him as the club's new captain. No questions about his leadership abilities but there were question marks over his fitness level.

In the end, the fitness level did proved a barrier as the German started just six percent of the league games played over two season, before his subsequent retirement at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Laurent Koscielny - August 2018 to August 2019

At the start of the 2018-19 season and due to the retirement of captain, Per Mertsesacker, Unai Emery named Laurent Koscielny as the captain and leader of his new Arsenal side being the longest serving player in the team at the time, he was also one of the players that stood in as the captain for Per Mertsesacker in seasons before.

It was all well and okay between Arsenal and their captain Laurent Koscielny until the French defender announced he wants to leave the club at the of the 2018-19 season. His last game was a disappointing 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku.

The defender admitted he is unhappy at the club and needed to go back to his country for a new challenge. Being overplayed and undervalued were the two reasons he stated for his unhappiness, and he was able to force a move out of the club after nine years at the club.

Koscielny went AWOL in order to force a move away from the club and in the end, the player who joined in 2009 from Lorient did get his move and returned to France, currently playing for Bordeaux.

Granit Xhaka - September to November 2019

Swiss Midfielder, Granit Xhaka arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2016 and so far until the moment he was made the captain of the club had endured a mixed relationship with the fans, with many convinced he is not good enough for the club.

After the departure of Laurent Koscielny, the former Borussia Moenchenglabach captain took over but did not last so much with the responsibility, as he crashed under pressure before the end of the first half of the season.

With Arsenal underperforming and fans calling for the manager to be dismissed, Granit Xhaka was also one of the players that got most of the disrespect from the fans and the height of it came when they played away at Selhurst Park.

Frustrated and could no longer cope with the abuse from his own fans, the Swiss midfielder swore at supporters as he was substituted in a draw against Crystal Palace in October 2019, removing the armband and throwing it away in frustration and eventually losing his position as the club's captain.

It almost lead to the end of the 29 year old at the club, but the appointment of Mikel Arteta managed to integrate him back into the team, and was again appreciated by the fans, even if the criticism seems to have no end, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replaced him.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - November 2019 to December 2021

The Gabonnese succeeded Granit Xhaka in the midst of the rough episode. Aubameyang was unarguably Arsenal's best player up to that time but as the new season started in the 2020-21 with him as the captain, he completely degraded from the top level.

Won the golden boot in his first full season in England and lost out on the second, finishing just a goal behind Jamie Vardy. It was thought Aubameyang will continue his form in Mikel Arteta's first full season and help the Gunners become real competitors for the league title after finishing the 2019-20 season well and winning the Emirates FA Cup.

Reverse has been the case ever since and Aubameyang struggled in the 2020-21 season, scoring just 10 league goals and missing great opportunities in the semi final of the Europa League as the Arsenal lost out to eventual Champions Villarreal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal could not hide his disappointment after the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on December 6, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

In the new season, he has hit an even lower standard, missing clear-cut chances while being afforded opportunities in the midst of younger and promising players, who always perform whenever they are being called on. Just four league goals this season, Aubameyang is high on the list of players with most big chances missed in the league.

The reason for his being stripped of the armband has not been stated but surely discipline breach is just one of the many reasons.

This has been the stories with the captains since Thierry Henry's departure and Mikel Arteta needs to weigh his options carefully before making a decision if Arsenal are to put behind a curse that looks never-ending.

Author: Afolabi Kehinde Hassan