Gabby Agbonlahor to be sold in January?

After his exclusion from the matchday squad for Villa´s 0-2 loss to Arsenal on Sunday, rumours are flying that club captain Gabriel Agbonlahor might be sold during the January transfer window to raise funds for a new striker.

The story seems to come from the Daily Telegraph's Midlands Football correspondent John Percy, who suggested that Remi Garde hasn't been satisfied with Gabby's performances in training and sees getting a new striker in as a top priority.

With 0 goals and only 1 assist this season and a declining legacy in recent seasons, Gabby's departure might make sense for the club. Certainly WhoScored offers a withering assessment of his contribution.

Image from WhoScored.com.

However as Martin Laurence pointed out on Twitter, it would be a major change for Villa to sell the 29 year-old who is both club captain and its longest-serving player since making his debut in 2006.

If, as reported, Agbonlahor does leave the club in January the Villa player with the most PL goals will be Ciaran Clark, with 6. Remarkable

— Martin Laurence (@martinlaurence7) diciembre 15, 2015

(That´s true if you only count goals scored for Villa)

The stats certainly suggest that Gabby is below par so far this season compared to Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede - see our statistical analysis of Villa's attacking struggles so far this season here - but with problems across the pitch, this could be more about Garde looking to change the club's mentality with Agbonlahor being a symbol of recent mediocrity.

What do you think? Is it time for Gabby to go or is he being made a scapegoat? Does he deserve more consideration as a servant of the club? Let us know in the comments!