Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has put the onus on the more experienced players in his squad to help lift the club out of the doldrums following a poor start to the season.
The French tactician has in the past had a shortage of natural 'captains' but he feels the additions of the likes of Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker at the end of the summer transfer window has seen the Gunners gain some much-needed leadership which could help them improve on their current position of 15th on the Premier League table.
"Sometimes we are reproached for not having enough captains in our squad, now we have plenty," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.
"Overall we have more experience and this could be important if we are in a strong position should we have interesting challenges in March or April. That could have a big part to play.
"We got criticised a lot last season for not getting over the line, but I believe that we were so close, so, so close that it was unbelievable to accept.
"But we have added more experience. Also last year we lost important players in March and April because we went for all the trophies, so hopefully we have the squad to do it and this time it will happen.
"In every position you always have number one, two and three, knowing there is a not a lot between them.
"But basically I'm very happy with the signings we made and my challenge now is to prove that I made the right decisions.
"I have great belief in the players I bought in and I am convinced they will prove me right."
