Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuI6h-jdHkc/U-fIjCXhoCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/tmwyCbWuPi4/s1600/IMG_20140727_061819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta" border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuI6h-jdHkc/U-fIjCXhoCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/tmwyCbWuPi4/s1600/IMG_20140727_061819.jpg" title="Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta" width="320" /></a></div> Arsene Wenger confirmed Mikel Arteta as Arsenal's new captain after watching his side beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield.<br /> <br /> Hours after the sale of former skip<br /> per Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona, Arsenal dispatched the Premier League champions at Wembley on Sunday as Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud found the net in an impressive performance.<br /> <br /> Arteta featured alongside Jack Wilshere as the FA Cup holders dominated central midfield and Wenger named the former Everton player as his new captain, with Per Mertesacker to serve as vice-captain.<br /> <br /> Wenger said: "One, Arteta and two, Mertesacker. Arteta will be captain and Mertesacker vice-captain."<br /> <br /> Mertesacker was absent against City due to an extended break after being part of Germany's triumphant World Cup squad.<br /> <br /> It opened the way for close-season signing Calum Chambers to partner Laurent Koscielny at centre-back and the 19-year-old produced as assured display, despite playing the majority of his senior football to date at right-back.<br /> <br /> "For a 19-year-old he had an outstanding performance," Wenger said. "The kind of performance he delivered is very promising.<br /> <br /> "It's impressive because he hasn't got a long history in this position because he was a right-back and I think if all goes well he has a good career in front of him.<br /> <br /> "He can challenge both centre-backs and that's what you want. You cannot play with two centre-backs the whole season; that means he will play."<br /> <br /> At the other end of the field, an Arsenal attack featuring showpiece new signing Alexis Sanchez caused City no end of problems and Wenger is pleased with the talent at his disposal for the new campaign.<br /> <br /> "I have more attacking options than I had for a long time - that's for sure," he said.<br /> <br /> "Three, four, five years ago, every year we lost a big player. In the last two years, we added players like [Mesut] Ozil and this season like Alexis so of course that strengthens the squad.<br /> <br /> "I am, of course, very ambitious but I'm a bit cautious because I have quite a good experience. I look around and see the other teams have strengthened as well so it will be interesting to watch the Premier League because it looks like all the big teams will be very strong."<br /> <br /> Arsenal's title bid last term was undermined by heavy defeats at the hands of fellow Premier League heavyweights.<br /> <br /> "That's why it was important for us not to lose the game," Wenger added.<br /> <br /> "On that front we know that last year we were very consistent against the teams outside the top six and not consistent against the top six teams.<br /> <br /> "The year before it was reversed so let's hope that this year it will be right on both sides."

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Arsene Wenger confirmed Mikel Arteta as Arsenal's new captain after watching his side beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield...

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Ramsey aims to emulate Lampard and Gerrard

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" /></a>Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years.<br /> <br /> Ramsey struck 16 times in all competitions for the London club last season, easily his best haul since his move from Cardiff City in 2008.<br /> <br /> The last of those goals was also arguably Arsenal's most important in nine years, as Ramsey burst into the box in extra-time in the FA Cup Final to score the winner against Hull City and ensure Arsenal secured their first major trophy since 2005.<br /> <br /> Just like Lampard in the 2009 FA Cup Final and Gerrard in the 2005 UEFA Champions League decider, Ramsey produced the goods when it mattered most and the Welshman wants to become Arsenal's answer to the famous English midfield duo for years to come.<br /> <br /> "I see myself as that midfielder who can score goals for Arsenal and I think that's important," Ramsey told The Telegraph on Thursday.<br /> <br /> "It's proven over the years to be important for successful sides to have goal-scoring midfielders and, hopefully, I'll do the same this season.<br /> <br /> "The likes of Gerrard and Lampard have done it for many years on a consistent basis and that will be my aim now to do that.<br /> <br /> "I've always felt I'd be a goal-scoring midfielder. Before my serious injury, I had broken into the team and scored a few goals. I've always believed in my ability to do that and I've always been in goal-scoring situations.<br /> <br /> "But I haven't been as composed as I was last season. I just felt like I had a lot more time in front of goal, whereas in the past I rushed a few decisions and shots that I made."<br /> <br /> Arsenal will return to Wembley on Sunday for the Community Shield against Manchester City and the Wales international is determined to start the new season on a high note.<br /> <br /> "Our season starts on Sunday and we'll be going out to win the game," he said.<br /> <br /> "It will be a good marker because we let ourselves down last year against the bigger teams. If we improve on that this season, we'll have a great chance [to win the Premier League] and we'll be right there at the end."

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Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years. Rams...

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Arsenal never close to Khedira capture

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/7/592049header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/7/592049header.jpg" /></a>Arsenal were never close to signing Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, according to manager Arsene Wenger.<br /> <br /> The Germany international has been a reported target for the Premier League club in recent months, with Arsenal thought to have been keen to further strengthen the centre of their midfield.<br /> <br /> Rumours intensified after Real brought in Khedira's compatriot Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich, but Wenger insists Arsenal never in the market for the 27-year-old.<br /> <br /> The Frenchman confirmed on Friday that the former Stuttgart man is unlikely to come to the Emirates Stadium, but revealed that he could yet make further signings.<br /> <br /> Wenger questioned: "I don't know who has put Khedira on the market - is it his agent or the press?<br /> <br /> "We were never close to signing him. Jack Wilshere is back fit and in midfield we have offensive midfielders and quite a few box-to-box players."<br /> <br /> Arsenal have also been linked with Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus and Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho ahead of their Premier League opener against Crystal Palce on August 16.<br /> <br /> While remaining open to additions, Wenger said the return of Joel Campbell from a loan spell at Olympiacos and a lack of big-name departures means his squad is already very strong.<br /> <br /> "We still have three and a half weeks before the transfer market closes," he added.<br /> <br /> "I am open to [more transfers] but Joel Campbell has come back plus the addition of the four players we have already bought.<br /> <br /> "We have not lost players until now so we have a big squad at the moment."

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Arsenal were never close to signing Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, according to manager Arsene Wenger. The Germany international has...

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