Granit Xhaka is ready to resume his leadership role and help us "create something special" this season, regardless of whether he's wearing the captain's armband.
Our Switzerland midfielder was in the captaincy group last term alongside Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Petr Cech and Mesut Ozil.
It's a role he relishes, but says that leadership is about more than symbols.
"It is not about the armband," he said. "We have to work well together on the pitch, out of the pitch and we have to work together, all of the players," he said.
"If the club and the coach gives me the armband I will be happy of course.