Mikel Arteta’s decision to delegate Martin Odegaard as the club captain for the match against Southampton suggests a new role for the Norwegian in the future. Arsenal will be appointing a new captain at the end of the season with Odegaard highly tipped to take on the role.
The captaincy became vacant in December after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the role due to his disciplinary issues. Since this incident, Alexandre Lacazette has taken over as the temporary skipper.
However, with the Frenchman’s future uncertain at the club, the next permanent Arsenal captain has been called into question. Odegaard being given the captaincy in the absence of Lacazette certainly gives a major hint that he is Arteta’s choice to be the next captain.
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Lacazette’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with no guarantee he will sign a new deal. Alongside Barcelona, Lyon are also interested in the 30-year-old’s services which the Ligue 1 side’s club president confirmed.
Speaking via Metro, Jean-Michel Aulas said: “We’ll do our best to sign Alexandre Lacazette in June. We’ve always remained in contact with him.”
The Frenchman has been the temporary captain in every Premier League game he has been available for since December. This would suggest that he would be given the permanent captaincy if he was to stay at the club.
However, with his departure looking likely, it seems that Odegaard is now next in line to wear the armband on a full-time basis. The 23-year-old is no stranger to the role, as he is already the captain of the Norway national team.
Odegaard has been excellent for Arsenal since making a £35m summer switch from Real Madrid at the start of the season. The midfielder has been pivotal to Arsenal’s surprise push for a top-four place this campaign.
He has already shown his leadership on the pitch for the Gunners without wearing the armband. The Norwegian international is the player to lead the press and dictate the tempo when in possession of the ball.
If he is awarded the Arsenal captaincy then there should not be too many complaints. Arteta’s decision to give him the responsibility in the match against Southampton is a big hint for the future that Odegaard will be Arsenal’s next skipper.
