Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has claimed that he would ‘excel’ as Gunners captain, with boss Mikel Arteta set to make a long-term decision over the role. The north London club have not had the best of luck when it comes to the armband over recent seasons.
Laurent Koscielny, Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all exited the role under a cloud, with it having been decided that Alexandre Lacazette would serve as captain following the Gabonese’s departure for Barcelona. However, a new man is likely to be chosen by Mikel Arteta ahead of the 2022/23 campaign with Lacazette expected to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of his current contract.
It of course remains to be seen who the next in-line will be but Ramsdale has now thrown his hat into the ring having backed his own abilities to live up to the role.
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Speaking with FourFourTwo, the 23-year-old said: "Listen, I’d take the responsibility but that’s down to the manager. We’ve got a lot of strong characters, though, and a lot of people who I think would be good captains.
"Just to be told 'you’re in a leadership role' – I’d relish whatever. You never turn down a captaincy and I think I’d excel if I was given the armband, but that’s down to the boss."
Whilst it remains to be seen whether Ramsdale would indeed be bestowed the responsibility of being Arsenal captain, one thing that is for sure is that he is likely to remain as the Gunners’ number one following an impressive debut campaign in north London.
The former Sheffield United man has made 29 appearances in all competitions thus far this season - ousting previous number one Bernd Leno in the process. Over that time, he has accumulated 15 clean sheets - 12 of those coming in the Premier League.
Whilst Ramsdale is clearly backing his own abilities to lead the Gunners, one man who has been talked up for the role is Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard. When asked if the former Real Madrid starlet could claim the role, Arteta was forthright in his opinion.
Speaking last month, the Spaniard said: "He certainly has all the qualities to do that [to be captain], absolutely.
"Talking to his national team coach and how highly they speak of him. He walks through the corridor and everybody loves him.
"He is such a nice, humble guy and he leads with the way he is. It is very natural for him and that will come.”
