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Arteta hoping to build 'stability' and discusses Arsenal captaincy

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has discussed the importance of ‘stability’ and unity at the Emirates as he bids to improve the clubs fortunes following his appointment as head coach.

The former club captain has made a promising start to life in the Arsenal dugout since his arrival last month, the Gunners’ performances having been much improved with the 2-0 midweek win over Manchester United giving Arteta his first victory in charge.

Following the club’s recent upturn in form, Arteta has spoken on the importance of the club’s ‘leadership’ as they bid to bring success to the north London side, and the 37-year-old intends to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his captain to ensure stability moving forwards.

“The leadership many times is related to how this team lives together,” Arteta told the press ahead of his sides FA Cup clash with Leeds tomorrow.

“The moment you start to see different groups, they have leaders in these groups, but they are not shared in the best common interests of the group and this is what I wanted to avoid.

“We have some leaders, some are more leaders on the pitch and some more outside the pitch. Some have influence to players that is very necessary. We want to bring all together.

“The more stability we can generate with our captain and the players we have in the squad, I think the more clarity we will have to transmit to the fans what we are trying to do.

“There are many factors, some we cannot control, but at the moment everything is OK and not the time for me to change things in place because I haven’t seen real things to make the decisions.

“I have been at clubs that have four or five captains. It is more a leadership group than captains. At the end it is one guy wearing the armband and after the team picks the leaders.

“The moment they pick the leaders is when someone talks if they listen or they are looking at the roof. That is when you see.”