Paul Merson says David Luiz should be the new Arsenal captain

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has said that Arsenal manager Unai Emery should give the captain's armband to David Luiz, considering the Brazilian will remain a mainstay in the Gunners defence this season.

Granit Xhaka has been the regular skipper since the beginning of the campaign but the Switzerland international has come for criticism from the fans for the slow transition of play from the centre of the park.

Luiz has likewise been disappointing with a couple of below-par performances in the Gunners shirt but Merson feels the Brazilian is a serial winner and should be named as the permanent captain.

"David Luiz has got to be captain, he's a serial winner. People have a go at him because one week he'll be a 2/10 and the next a 9/10, but he's going to play every week," he told Sky Sports.

Luiz has been ever-present at the heart of the Gunners defence since making his debut against Burnley last month. He could, however, be rested for tonight's League Cup third round tie against Nottingham Forest.

Rob Holding is available after building up his fitness following a serious knee injury and the Englishman is likely to partner Shkodran Mustafi in the central defence tonight.