The German defender replaces Mikel Arteta who left the club earlier this summer, but he will have to wait before wearing the captain’s armband as he is now sidelined with an injury.
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Manager Arsene Wenger believes his senior players are capable of sharing the armband until the 31-year-old makes his return. “I think it is absolutely natural to be [him]”, Wenger told Arsenal Player.
“(In his absence) that’s where it will be taken by the assistants.
However, following the German’s knee injury suffered in training and the five-month lay off now facing the centre-back, manager Arsène Wenger has had to rethink his choice for the coming season. We will have a group of people that will take care of the energy levels and the problems of the team.
The England midfielder is now gearing up for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Liverpool at The Emirates on Sunday afternoon as the Gunners look to get their top-flight campaign off the a positive start in north London.
Asked if he would sign another striker – as he has been for numerous seasons – to support Olivier Giroud, Wenger said: “We have [Alexis] Sanchez, we have [Theo] Walcott”.
The Spaniard’s injury problems over the last two seasons have seen several players fill in as temporary captain.
Arsenal have not won the Premier League title since their famous unbeaten triumph in the 2003-04 season but will be hoping to build on their second-placed finish last term.
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“He is organized and he won’t take any nonsense from anyone. He is the one who organises our team dinners so for me he is a great choice”.
