Per Mertesacker has been appointed captain of Arsenal for the 16-17 season.

Mertesacker had seemed the likely choice for the captaincy until he sustained a knee injury last month that needed surgery, with Wenger having said the German isn't expected back for a few months.

Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla are vice-captains. Mikel Arteta had been captain of the club.

"Per is a very respected figure in the dressing room, is loved as well and is also a very demanding figure. I think it is absolutely natural to be [him]," Wenger told Arsenal Player.

"[In his absence] that's where it will be taken by the assistants. One of them will be [Laurent] Koscielny, also [Santi] Cazorla -- the experienced players -- Cech maybe. "We will have a group of people that will take care of the energy levels and the problems of the team. That will be down a lot to the experienced players."