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Mikel Arteta new Arsenal captain: Arsene Wenger confirms midfielder as new captain after Thomas Vermaelen leaves

Spanish midfielder takes the armband from Thomas Vermaelen

James Orr
Monday 11 August 2014 09:55 BST
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Mikel Arteta poses with the Community Shield alongside Santi Cazorla (left) and Alexis Sanchez (right)
Mikel Arteta poses with the Community Shield alongside Santi Cazorla (left) and Alexis Sanchez (right)

Mikel Arteta has been confirmed as Arsenal's new captain by Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger.

Arteta has been promoted from vice-captain to replace Thomas Vermaelen, who joined Barcelona for £15m yesterday.

Per Mertesacker, the towering German defender, has been named as Arsenal's vice-captain.

The 32-year-old, who was signed from Everton for £10 in August 2011, said after the Gunners' 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City today:

"This is another trophy for us and that is important for Arsenal because we had a long spell without trophies," he said.

"It was a good test to see where we are ahead of the start of the Premier League and we had some points in the game where we looked really good.

"We were facing the champions and in some of the games last season against the top teams, we did not perform well.

"Today was a good opportunity to put that right and we have shown here that we can compete again."

He added: "We want to progress from where we were last season, we want to continue winning things and to start the season like this can only boost the confidence, that we are going in the right direction."

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