To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Arsene Wenger Drops Hint Over Who His Next Arsenal Captain Will Be

Arsene Wenger Drops Hint Over Who His Next Arsenal Captain Will Be

Per Mertesacker is retiring at the end of the season

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Arsene Wenger is faced with the difficult decision of choosing Arsenal's next captain, with Per Mertesacker retiring at the end of the season and taking up a role as the club's academy manager.

Laurent Koscielny has taken on the armband for the majority of this season, but with the way Wenger is talking, it seems like Jack Wilshere is his ideal candidate.

The 26-year old, who is still yet to sign a new deal ahead of the expiration of his current contract in the summer, looked surplus to requirements in the summer but has fought his way back into the Arsenal first-team and earned an England recall prior to yet another untimely injury.

de
de
Images: PA
Images: PA

Wilshere has turned out 31 times this season and Wenger feels he has earned the right to be the 'skipper'.

"He [Wilshere] was born here basically," he told Bein Sports.

"He has a long history with the club, strong link with the club. As well he is the kind of leader for his attitude and for his tactical knowledge on the pitch.

"Apart from his technical top qualities he has personality and is in the right place on the pitch, and now with the maturity to organise around him. That's why I played him central.

"I just thought the combination of history, the fact that he's a long term player for the club, the fact that he has experience and knowledge now, I trust now to make him captain."

Image: PA
Image: PA

With a deal still not agreed, Wilshere has continually been linked with a move away. He hopes to have his situation sorted out before the World Cup.

In an interview with The Independent, Wilshere revealed Wenger told him he was free to leave the Emirates in the summer if he wanted to.

"He said, 'I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go'. Obviously I was not happy with that, but at the same time I was happy he was being honest.

"I did not find anything that I wanted [transfer-wise] and at the same time I was not really fit, so I decided that I wanted to stay and build up my fitness.

"He also said at the same time that if I did stay I had an opportunity to fight for my place, and if I performed well in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, I had a chance."

Would Wilshere be a good fit as Arsenal captain?

Sound off in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Football, Jack Wilshere, Arsene Wenger, Arsenal