5. Per Mertesacker
Here he is, the number one contender. Everybody at Arsenal loves him. The players, the staff and even more so, the fans. He has such a welcoming presence that it is impossible to rationally dislike him. He had a great season partnering Laurent Koscielny last season and his leadership skills are on show to see in every game he plays. He is the first choice to replace Vermaelen as captain, and I believe he is the right choice.