Arsenal boss Unai Emery admits he wants an English player as part of his leadership group.
Emery has admitted for the first time that Arsenal could lose Laurent Koscielny because of his contract row and that means looking for more leaders as Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey both left the club this summer.
He said: “I want one English player in these five captains. Last year Xhaka, Mesut and Nacho were working as captains. But after Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech left - and possibly Laurent Koscielny - I will want more.
“An English player who grew up in our academy can understand the English spirit and Arsenal values. These are the qualities and more [we want].
“We lost some players with big experience and a long time in England and Arsenal like Cech and Ramsey. We lost Koscielny too. They started one day being captain when they were young.
“We have young players with experience, players starting for the first time to be considered as captains. If we decide on a player they have the capacity and deserve to have the opportunity to be captain.
“(I look for) experience of leadership, being an example on and off the pitch, character and communication with the coach and other players, capacity to speak and to be there for supporters, a good connection and communication with the club."
