Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised Mikel Arteta's willingness to play in a different position for the start of the new season.

The Spanish midfielder has sat deeper than usual for the Gunners in their opening three games of the Premier League campaign.

"He is a winner and he does what it takes to win, it's as simple as that," Wenger said in his programme notes ahead of today's match against Southampton. "If he sees that he has to sit to allow us to be efficient, he will do it.

"If he needs to push forward, he will do it just because he wants to win. That's why I made him vice captain."

Arteta joined Arsenal from Everton last summer for around £10m.