Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has decided to make Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta his new club captain.
Current skipper Thomas Vermaelen is on the verge of joining Catalan giants Barcelona, who have agreed to buy the Belgian defender for £15 million after Manchester United pulled out of the race to add him to their squad.
Arteta is currently the club's vice captain, and looks set to be promoted up one place with Per Mertesacker becoming the new second in line. The club tended to operate in that manner last season, especially as Vermaelen often found himself out of the side after Mertesacker forged an excellent partnership with French defender Laurent Koscielny.
Former Everton man Arteta only has one year left on his contract at the Emirates, though talks are thought to be ongoing about an extension to the deal.
Vermaelen however is set to leave the club within the next week, once talks with Barcelona reach completion. Vermaelen is expected to sign a four year deal with the club worth £80,000-a-week.
The Belgian should have left the club by the time the Gunners open their Champions League campaign on August 19th. The Gunners have been dealt a tricky tie against Turkish side Besiktas in the final qualifying round for the tournament.
He is a special one.
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