Arsene Wenger: 'Per Mertesacker will be captain tomorrow'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Per Mertesacker will captain the side tomorrow against Aston Villa.

The Gunners are without a host of key players for Saturday's Premier League opener, with skipper Thomas Vermaelen and vice-captain Mikel Arteta both ruled out.

Wenger believes that Mertesacker is the logical choice to cover the role, providing experience and leadership in central defence.

When asked about the armband, Wenger told the club's official website: "Mertesacker. [Centre-back] is a position that is interesting for a captain because he has the game in front of him.

"He's in the centre of the pitch, he has experience and he did it until now. There's no basic reason to change that."

Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey are all fitness concerns for Arsenal ahead of Villa's visit, while Bacary Sagna is sidelined by an ankle problem.