Cesc Fabregas is being lined up as the future Arsenal captain.

His maturity - he won't be 21 until May - has been astonishing and manager Arsene Wenger has earmarked him as the future leader of the team, says the Sunday Mirror.

Wenger is at pains to defend his decision to appoint William Gallas as skipper and there is no chance that the French international will be replaced as the season approaches its climax.

But Gallas will be 31 in August and Wenger knows he may not be capable of playing in every game.