Every Premier League captain ranked after Aubameyang's bold claim

To captain a team in the Premier League is among the biggest honours in football - just ask Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Arsenal striker was appointed skipper in late 2019 after Granit Xhaka was stripped of the armband following a bitter confrontation with fans.

It has not always been plain sailing for Aubameyang, either, but he relishes the responsibility of leading Mikel Arteta's side and he even claims to be the "coolest captain in the league, maybe in the world".

The 32-year-old described himself as "quiet" and "shy", but insisted he has the experience to deliver calming or rousing words in the dressing room during an eye-opening interview with Arsenal's official website.

Aubameyang has certainly shown his leadership ability this season to rally Arsenal after a dire start and go unbeaten in their next eight games.

But how do his rival captains at other teams compare? Here, Mirror Football ranks all 20 Premier League skippers.

20. Fernandinho

The Brazilian midfielder has been a phenomenal servant to Manchester City and he is, of course, a great leader.

However, the 36-year-old has had limited involvement since inheriting the armband from David Silva last year due to his age and the emergence of Rodri in defensive midfield.

Fernandinho has only made two starts in the Premier League this season, leaving him bottom of the pile despite his ability.

19. Mark Noble

The West Ham United legend is in a similar boat to Fernandinho.

Noble, 34, has only made two substitute appearances in the Premier League this campaign, one of which saw him squander a late penalty against Manchester United.

Declan Rice has been seriously impressive while wearing the armband in his absence, but Noble deserves recognition for his seven years as club captain ahead of his exit next summer.

18. Moussa Sissoko

The French midfielder joined Watford from Tottenham Hotspur for a small fee this summer and Claudio Ranieri appears to have made him captain after replacing Xisco as manager.

Sissoko, 32, has had limited opportunity to make an impact with just four fames wearing the armband, but he did lead the Hornets to an astonishing 5-2 victory at Everton in October.

If he can skipper Watford to survival in the Premier League, he will rise up these rankings.

17. Luka Milivojevic

Another captain who is often left out of the starting XI, the Serbian has been in and out of Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace side this season.

Milivojevic, 30, was appointed skipper by Roy Hodgson in 2018 but he has been on the bench for the Eagles' last two games.

It appears his new manager may prefer James McArthur, 34, with the armband, as the Scot led Palace to impressive 2-0 victories over Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

16. Grant Hanley

Captaining the Premier League's rock-bottom club can be a hapless task, especially for a centre-back playing in a team with the worst defensive record.

Hanley, 29, faces a mammoth task to lead Norwich City to survival this season, while a groin injury saw him miss the Canaries' first win of the season, against Brentford before the international break.

Newly-appointed Dean Smith has plenty to think about after a matter of days as manager, and Hanley must convince him he is still the right player for the job three-and-a-half years on from being made skipper.

15. Tyrone Mings

The England centre-back has struggled with the burden of captaincy at Aston Villa after Jack Grealish passed him the armband this summer.

Mings, 28, has been unusually rash at centre-back and Villa have the third-worst defensive record in the league with 20 goals conceded in 11 games.

He was even dropped by Dean Smith towards the end of the manager's reign, and new boss Steven Gerrard has warned Mings must "prove he can be the right man" to be captain in the long term.

14. Harry Maguire

Another England centre-back in the spotlight, Maguire has faced severe criticism this season for failing to marshal a severely-disorganised Manchester United defence.

There have even been calls to strip him of the armband he was handed in January 2020.

Admittedly, the 28-year-old was not helped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to rush him back from a calf injury in October, but he has not looked himself.

United are slipping down the table and they are in dire need of leadership and players who will take responsibility; now is the time for Maguire to step up.

13. Jamaal Lascelles

In a time of upheaval at Newcastle United, will the Englishman cling onto the armband?

Lascelles, 28, has been a reliable performer at the back since he was appointed skipper in 2016 despite his injury issues, but there can be no doubt new blood is needed in defence.

The Magpies are yet to win a game this season and it remains to be seen if Eddie Howe will persist with Lascelles as captain ahead of what is sure to be an intriguing January transfer window.

12. Liam Cooper

Ever-present at the back for Leeds United this season, the Scotland international has the trust of Marcelo Bielsa having skippered the Whites to promotion in 2020.

Cooper, 30, has been club captain for almost seven years and continues to play a major role due to the regular injuries suffered by fellow centre-backs Robin Koch and Diego Llorente.

Leeds - who are 15th in the Premier League - have been underwhelming this term given the high bar they set for themselves last campaign, and Cooper must channel his experience to get them back on the right track.

11. Seamus Coleman

The armband was passed from one long-serving defender to another as Coleman was made Everton captain following Phil Jagielka's departure in 2019.

Also serving as Republic of Ireland skipper, the 33-year-old has strong leadership experience but the rigours of the Premier League suggest his age may be catching up with him this season.

In a division filled with young, dynamic full-backs, Coleman is sometimes found wanting and he led the Toffees on a dismal run of three consecutive defeats by West Ham, Watford and Wolves in recent weeks.

10. Pontus Jansson

Brentford's dazzling start to their first Premier League season has tailed off, but Jansson deserves praise nonetheless.

The Sweden international, 30, has played all but eight top-flight minutes for the Bees this season, leading the club to an impressive 2-0 victory over Arsenal on the opening day and a pulsating 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

Brentford are 14th with 11 games played, and Jansson can consider it a job well done if he captains the side to survival in his third season in west London.

9. Hugo Lloris

A Tottenham Hotspur icon and a World Cup-winning captain, Lloris' leadership credentials are clear for all to see.

The 34-year-old remains a high-class goalkeeper on his day, but he is out of contract next summer and the general mood is he will need replacing before long.

Lloris - who has been skipper since 2015 - must accept some responsibility for Spurs' underperformance this season, as the manner with which they let their heads drop against Manchester United was unacceptable.

8. Ben Mee

Combative, dedicated and vocal: the Englishman is Sean Dyche's ideal captain.

Mee, 32, was appointed skipper in 2019 and he leads a Burnley side which continues to punch well above their weight given their spending in the Premier League.

As ever, the Clarets have started slowly this season, but Mee led them to their first victory, a 3-1 win over Brentford, before holding Chelsea to a draw to suggest they will avoid the drop once again.

7. Conor Coady

Many expected the England international may lose his place in the starting XI as Bruno Lage replaced Nuno Espirito Santo this summer.

However, Coady, 28, has played all but three minutes for Wolves in the Premier League this season, scoring the equaliser in a dramatic comeback victory at Aston Villa last month.

What he lacks in pace he makes up for in his reading of the game, and he has clearly shown Lage why Nuno trusted him with the armband for many years.

6. Kasper Schmeichel

The gifted goalkeeper wore the armband for the majority of the last two seasons due to Wes Morgan rarely starting a game, and was appointed club captain this summer after the 37-year-old's retirement - and following an FA Cup triumph, of course.

Schmeichel, 35, is a commanding presence at the back and he will be relishing leading the Foxes in European competition for the second consecutive season.

The Denmark international must help get the best out of a talented squad to lift Leicester into the top half of the table after a mixed domestic start.

5. James Ward-Prowse

The Englishman let himself down with a reckless challenge and straight red card against Chelsea in early October, but he has proved himself to be a fine leader since he was handed the armband last year.

Ward-Prowse, 27, is the key cog in Ralph Hasenhuttl's exciting Southampton side with his wicked set-piece delivery, distribution from midfield and ability to strike a free kick.

In many ways he is an old-fashioned skipper, running the show from the centre of the park with tireless intensity.

4. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The self-appointed "coolest captain in the league" has pulled his socks up since he was dropped for being late to last season's north London derby.

Aubameyang steered Arsenal to a disappointing eighth-placed finish last season, but he has looked back to his best this term with seven goals and two assists in 11 games.

Arteta has been rewarded for his trust in the Gabonese, who has led the Gunners on a run of six victories during their eight-game unbeaten Premier League run.

3. Lewis Dunk

It is remarkable the Brighton & Hove Albion star only has one England cap to his name.

Dunk, 29, is right up there with some of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and he has played every minute for the Seagulls this season.