MANUEL OUT TO MAKE A MARK

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has laughed at Unai Emery’s claims he wants “five captains” in his Arsenal team – as the West Ham boss is struggling to pick even one.

Character is going to be vital when the two teams go head-to-head at The Emirates today without a single point between them after disappointing starts to the season.

But Pellegrini admits he is scratching his head over which one person to hand the armband to.

Mark Noble will miss the clash due to a back problem and Pellegrini said: “If Unai thinks five is okay, I don’t have any problem with that. The important thing is not to have the band, it is to be a captain.

“That’s why there are a lot of reasons to choose one. Normally for the amount of years that they are here on the team.

“But who will be captain without Noble? That’s a good question. It depends on the starting XI. I cannot tell you.”

Marko Arnautovic captained The Hammers for 45 minutes during a pre-season friendly when Noble was rested. Pablo Zabaleta – who Pellegrini worked with previously at Manchester City – is also a strong contender.

Patient

Pellegrini’s prime concern though is settling upon his strongest team and he warned West Ham fans they may need to be patient until he finds the winning formula.

“I don’t know if finding my best XI is closer or not because we need time for a lot of reasons,” the 65-year-old said. “If you review my career – at Villarreal, at Malaga, in Manchester – the first games that I managed were never good games.

“I remember in Manchester we lost our first three games away or rather lost two and won one so I’m not worried about that. But as soon as we can win it would be better.”

Like the Hammers, Arsenal are just two games into a new era.

Pellegrini knows it will take time for both teams to find their feet and said: “It is very difficult to say how long it will be.

“When I said that a new team, with a new manager and new players, needs time, it is because it is true. But I also say that football does not give you too much time.

“You must try to improve and to win but I trust my experiences that I have had before.

“I know the other teams that I had always produced that quality in the end, and I am going to do that here as well.”