In a season of mounting strife, Arsenal may have hoped that stripping Granit Xhaka of the captaincy last week would allow them to at least move on from that particular controversy.



But The Athletic has learned the decision to remove the armband from Xhaka and then hand it to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has divided opinion inside the North London club.



Although Xhaka’s popularity has always been mixed among Arsenal supporters, who seemed to take a particularly dim view of the 27-year-old Switzerland midfielder being appointed as permanent skipper in September, he was generally well-regarded by players and staff.



Some within the set-up, therefore, believe Xhaka has been “thrown under the bus” internally following his actions as he was substituted during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last month.



Others, however, intimate that by storming away from the Emirates Stadium after that incident and declining to privately...