Arsenal will not have any notes from the captain in their match programme for their home opener against Burnley as Unai Emery continues to delay the announcement of his club skipper.
Emery wants to name a leadership group five - as he did last season - but is holding off until the closing of the transfer window in Europe before making a formal announcement. The same is true for the role of club captain, vacated after Laurent Koscielny's departure to Bordeaux earlier this month.
That means that the traditional captain's notes, a staple of matchday programmes, will be nowhere to be found when Burnley arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
football.london understands that the programme will instead contain a "voice from the dressing room" piece from Granit Xhaka, the leading contender to be named club captain.
Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal have already been named among the quintet of captains Emery intends to appoint. Speaking on the club's pre-season tour of the USA the Spaniard also said that he wanted to add an English voice, expected to be Rob Holding, to the group.
"I want one English player in these five captains," Emery said.
"Last year Xhaka, Mesut [Ozil] and Nacho [Monreal] were working as captains. But after Aaron Ramsey and Petr Cech left - and Laurent Koscielny - I will want more.
"An English player who grew up in our academy can understand the English spirit and Arsenal values. These are the qualities and more [we want]."
Speaking earlier this week Xhaka said of his return to the Emirates Stadium for the game against Burnley: "I missed this place if I'm honest.
"I missed the guys, I missed the ball and it’s exciting to be back and working again to make a great season.
"I think this season won't be easy, but we know each other more and the coach knows the players better. We know him, what he wants, the mentality of the staff and as I've said before, I’m so excited because this is the second year now under Unai Emery and we want to make a good season this year."
