Mikel Arteta Endorses Martin Odegaard As A Future Arsenal Captain

By The Editor
on 21st February 2022

Mikel Arteta believes Martin Odegaard has the qualities required as a Gunner captain…

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has endorsed Martin Odegaard as a future Gunners captain with the boss aiming to make a long-term appointment in the summer, The Evening Standard reports.

Following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s demotion as Arsenal captain and subsequent exit, Alexandre Lacazette has taken on immediate responsibilities as the club’s skipper.

However, the Frenchman’s own long-term future is far from certain with his contract set to expire in June and no sign of an imminent extension.

It means Arteta will need to appoint a long-term captain at the end of the season and with no obvious candidate in the squad, the manager endorsed Odegaard.

The former Real Madrid is captain of the Norway national team, something Arteta feels stands him in good stead.

“He certainly has all the qualities to do that,” the Spaniard said about Odegaard’s leadership skills.

“Talking to his national team coach…how highly they speak of him.

“He walks through the corridor and everybody loves him. He is such a nice, humble guy. He leads with the way he is and it is very natural for him, and that will come.”

Odegaard is one of the first names on Arteta’s teamsheet, a condition that should be considered when choosing the next captain.

Too often in recent years have we given the armband to a player on the decline, forcing a constant conversation as to whether or not their status was aiding their selection chances.

Odegaard, Ben White and Kieran Tierney seem like the obvious choices for now, but four months is a very long time in football.