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Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson praises stand-in captain Per Mertesacker

Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson praises stand-in captain Per Mertesacker


Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson has hailed the club's stand-in captain Per Mertesacker for his leadership qualities.

The German International defender was given the captain's armband by the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger this season, following injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta.

Jenkinson has expressed that Mertesacker's positive attitude towards the game has had a great influence on his teammates.

Jenkinson told reporters : "Per's been here a while now and is very comfortable with his surroundings, he's playing well at the moment and proving a good leader.

"It's important that the whole back four is talking to one another – if I'd had one criticism in the past it's that we haven't talked enough when doing so makes everything so much easier for everyone on the pitch.

"Per has taken everything on board and is doing a lot of organising out there. It's something we all need to do if we are to push on and keep things tight as a defensive unit. Bacary [Sagna] has played there and he has proved he is exceptional so it's not an issue.

"In the past few games we have adapted fantastically. I think we've adapted fantastically. I think we've done incredibly well – it'll be a big boost when Thomas is fit again but everyone who has played so far has done their job and we want to keep that going."


The Gunners have so far won four out of the five matches in all competitions, in which Per Mertesacker has wore the captain's armband.