Wenger dropped his captain for the 2-0 win at Bayern Munich in midweek and looks set to continue with Per Metersacker and Laurent Koscielny at centre back against Swansea today.

"Who is a captain and a leader shouldn't guarantee you a place in any team," Wenger said. "In England it's true ... the captaincy is of massive importance.

"But for purely sporting reasons, or tactical reasons in the game, when you don't think it is the right selection, do you put the player in just as he is captain? That is disrespectful to the guy who doesn't play. For sporting reasons, it is not completely justifiable."