Fabregas is new Arsenal skipper

The young Spaniard will replace William Gallas who was stripped of the armband, after comments to the press last week.

He said: “William will play against Kiev but the captain of the team will be Fabregas.

“I do not think I have to explain why I make the decisions but it is a permanent thing.

“I believe the captain is the voice of the club towards the outside and is one of the leaders of the team.

“However, I do not believe in just one man in the dressing room who sorts out all of the problems.

“A successful team is a shared leadership inside the dressing room. Cesc will be one of the leaders but not the only one.”