I Want Leaders In My Team – Unai Emery

Unai Emery has made Laurent Koscielny captain of the club despite his long-term injury, and named Mesut Ozil among his four other co-captains.

The other four captains are goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfield trio Aaron Ramsey, Ozil and Granit Xhaka, Emery revealed on Friday.

“This morning, I give them [the squad] the official captain. First, he is injured but he is also captain of this group, is Koscielny,” Emery said ahead of Sunday’s Premier League opener against Manchester City. “In my career, I want leaders in the team. … It’s natural these five players are in the position to be captain.”

Emery said he is working hard toward instilling a new mentality in the team, but that it could take time.

“I want one thing, because it’s very important for us and for the player, is take confidence. Confidence in our work, confidence in himself,” Emery said. “I have confidence in myself, and also I can give them the confidence. But then also we need to build [a mentality] and it isn’t a thing you find quickly. You need building it up in time.”

Emery also dodged a question about whether Wenger has sent him any messages at all going into the season, saying only that he wants to build on the Frenchman’s legacy. Emery became Arsenal’s first new manager since 1996 after Wenger stepped down in May following a 22-year reign.

“The past is very important in this club, with the people that were working here. But we are starting a new way, and a new process,” he said. “And [we are] keeping a lot of the good ideas they were working with here, and also bringing my new [ideas] for how to improve in the tactical things, or my idea to transmit to the players my spirit.”