New Arsenal manager Unai Emery believes midfielder Aaron Ramsey will stay at Arsenal and has the credentials to captain the club.
Ramsey is currently in talks with Arsenal over a new contract as he has just one year to run on his present deal.
The Gunners want to tie the 27-year-old down to a new long-term deal as head coach Emery views him as an important part of his plans going forward.
The transfer window for Premier League clubs is due to shut on 9 August and, at this moment in time, Emery believes Ramsey is set to stay at Arsenal.
“Football changes every day. I think about the match today first, then training tomorrow, the match on Saturday to continue our preparation,” said Emery.
“For me, I want him to stay with us, to work with us, to give the team the big performances with his quality. I think he is going to stay here with us.
“I think Aaron is an important player for us. The contract is one thing for the club and the player.”
Ramsey captained Arsenal in Singapore on Thursday as they went down 3-1 on penalties to Atletico Madrid after being tied 1-1 after 90 minutes.
It is the second time the Wales international has skippered the side in pre-season after also wearing the armband for a half against Borehamwood.
Emery’s current plan is to have five captains in his Arsenal squad, with the players ranked from one to five in regards to who is the first-choice skipper.
And Ramsey has now been singled out as a contender by Emery, who is still yet to make an official announcement on who will replace retired captain Per Mertesacker.
“I said to you I want five captains in the team,” said Emery. “Then the numbers we are going to give to them, the first, the second, third, four and five.
“This is not yet official, this decision. But Aaron has the condition to be one of the captains.” Ramsey moved to Arsenal in 2008 in a £5 million deal, where he quickly gained first team experience. However, his career stalled significantly after he suffered a broken leg in a match against Stoke City in February 2010.
After two loan spells away from Arsenal, he returned to full fitness and re-established himself as a regular starter during the 2011–12 season. Ramsey was a key player for Arsenal in the 2013–14 season campaign, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, including the winner in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Hull City. He also played in the 2015 FA Cup Final, which Arsenal won, and scored a second FA Cup winning goal in 2017.
As well as the future of Aaron Ramsey, a decision over whether chief executive Ivan Gazidis will stay is also a pressing matter for Arsenal.