Per Mertesacker will reportedly be named new Arsenal captain for the upcoming Premier League season, despite no longer being considered a guaranteed starter.
Arsenal will reportedly hand the captain’s armband to Per Mertesacker for the new Premier League season. The German center-back will replace former skipper Mikel Arteta, despite no longer being considered a guaranteed member of the starting XI.
An exclusive report from Goal.com‘s Chris Wheatley has revealed how Mertesacker “will be rewarded for his loyalty by being handed the armband after Mikel Arteta retired from football to take up a coaching role at Manchester City.”
Wheatley also identified the key qualities that have made Mertesacker the ideal candidate for the captaincy, at least in the view of the Arsenal hierarchy:
"Despite being out of contract at the end of next season, Mertesacker is a trusted member of the squad and is the ‘chief fine collector’ at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground for players who commit misdemeanours including being late to training."
Mertesacker may possess the attributes of a natural leader, both on the pitch and in the dressing room, but manager Arsene Wenger is taking a gamble by handing the armband to a player who might rarely start.
Indeed, Mertesacker found himself on the bench during the latter stages of last season, when Wenger preferred Brazilian Gabriel Paulista alongside Laurent Koscielny in central defense.
That partnership may continue in the new campaign, although many believe Wenger needs to sign a new center-back. Either way, Mertesacker’s name isn’t being mentioned often as a potential starter.
However, Wenger hasn’t been shy about keeping the armband on players who’ve found themselves relegated to the bench in recent seasons. He let Thomas Vermaelen maintain the captaincy during the 2013/14 season, while Arteta did the same as an onlooker for most of 2015/16.
Wenger’s succession plan for Mertesacker also shows he’s not handing out the captaincy based on playing time, per Wheatley: “Mertesacker’s central defensive partner Laurent Koscielny will be given the vice-captaincy, while Petr Cech and Theo Walcott are alternate options if the former two aren’t on the pitch.”
Walcott won’t play every week, but it’s clear Wenger is demanding experience from his skipper candidates. Mertesacker has that in abundance.
His rather ominous-sounding role as training ground enforcer means he’s a smart choice, regardless of whether he plays. Still, though, teams need leadership on the pitch as well as off it, so maybe Wenger should consider reinstalling Mertesacker to the starting XI.
The 31-year-old is rarely appreciated by supporters and pundits, but he has played a vital role for his club since signing in 2011. While many continue to bemoan his lack of pace, Mertesacker remains a useful defender and has formed a very solid partnership next to Koscielny over the past few seasons.
Wenger needs a captain like Mertesacker to energize the dressing room and challenge a team long on talent, but occasionally short on competitive fire.
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