Per Mertesacker looks set to be promoted to Arsenal captain after the departure of Mikel Arteta.

The decision will strike many as strange, especially when you consider that the BFG may not have many more seasons at Arsenal left in his legs, but it is no real surprise as Arsene Wenger tends to just promote his vice-captain when a captain leaves.

For most of the summer it had been rumoured that the armband would be handed to Laurent Koscielny, but for the last few weeks there has been a shift in the gossip, focussing more on the German.

The Sun are also reporting that Petr Cech was in the frame for the role.

It now remains to be seen who will be made vice-captain with a number of options available to the boss including Kos, Petr, Rambo, Santi and Alexis.

Arsenal have yet to confirm or deny.