Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has warned the Gunners that they have a "major problem" due to their situation regarding club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang hasn't scored for Arsenal since October, and the Gabonese forward has recently worked his way out of the team due to matters occurring away from pitch.
After being subbed off as Arsenal were chasing a goal against Manchester United, and then being benched against Everton, Aubameyang was dropped completely against Southampton as Mikel Arteta claimed there was a "disciplinary breach".
It doesn't look good for Aubameyang or Arsenal, and Merson believes that it's time for his former club to select a new captain.
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Ahead of Arsenal's latest clash against Southampton, Aubameyang did not train with the rest of his teammates, and following his omission from the match day squad, Arteta said: "I think we have been very consistent that we have certain non-negotiables in the team that we have set ourselves as a club, and he's not involved today."
It's not the first time that Arteta has disciplined Aubameyang, and Merson believes that it is now time for the Spaniard to select a new captain, and is concerned that Arsenal are macing a "major problem" due to the forward being too comfortable at the club.
Merson told Sky Sports : "This is not going to be a problem for Aubameyang because he's got an unbelievable contract at the club.
"However, it's a major problem for Arsenal. Who's going to take him on those wages? Absolutely nobody in the whole wide world. And there's his age too. If he was 27, they'd be queuing up around the corner for him, but not now at the age of 32. It's a big problem for Arsenal and Arteta."
Merson then made it clear that if he was in charge, he wouldn't allow Aubameyang to be captain, adding: "This is not the first time this has happened with Aubameyang, there are a lot of young players in that team who will look up to him.
"He wouldn't be the captain if I was manager. Absolutely no chance. Once, yes. Twice, no. It's an honour to be captain of Arsenal and for me, something's got to change now.
"Somebody else has got to be the captain of Arsenal. I didn't really get it in the first place if I'm being honest. But it does show you that he sets an example, and the youngsters look up to him. That's why he was made captain."
Merson also commended Arteta's authority, and even suggested that he should keep Aubameyang out of the squad to face West Ham on Wednesday because they won so convincingly without him.
"I'm not sure about him being involved against West Ham on Wednesday.
"I don't get that at all. Fair play to Arteta for what he's done and how he's handled it so far, but for me, they won the game easily, so why bring him back in? He's got to set a better example off the field, and fair play to Arteta."
Arsenal are on the verge of a striking crisis as Aubameyang is the only recognised striker that doesn't see his current contract expire at the end of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun all are out of contract at the end of the current campaign, and with the Gunners facing an issue with who is meant to be their main man, it creates a major problem.
Arteta has a lot to figure out, and it could end up being a busy January for the Arsenal boss.
