Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard has said that he can help the Gunners’ young players with Mikel Arteta yet to decide on his next permanent Arsenal captain.
The Norwegian has been named as the captain of his country despite being just 23 years of age.
Having penned a permanent contract with Arsenal in the summer following a successful loan period with the club, he has now dropped the biggest hint yet that he could claim the same role at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking with the Gunners’ official website ahead of this weekend’s match with Brentford, he said: “It helps me, to be around players in the same situation [in terms of age].
“I’ve been through a lot, even though I’m pretty young. In this team I’m not the youngest anymore and I have some experience and I can use that in a positive way, and help the other young players.
“We’re a great group, we have a lot of big young talents but also some more experienced players, I think the mix is good and the team is very hungry. It’s really nice to be part of the team.”
Whilst Odegaard will not be named the Gunners’ captain until the summer at the very least - Alexandre Lacazette having been bestowed with the armband following the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - it could well be an option in the future with the Frenchman’s contract set to expire at the end of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta could then face yet another tricky decision over who should be named the Gunners’ next captain.
The Spaniard though has praised Odegaard’s leadership skills in the past - an aspect that could well come into his future thinking.
Speaking in December, Arteta said: “We have a tremendous player.
“He [Odegaard] is a natural leader if you look for perfect professional he wouldn’t be very far from that.”
So far this season, the former Real Madrid man has made 20 starts in all competitions, netting four goals and notching four assists along the way.
