Paul Merson has given his thoughts on who should be the Arsenal captain next season. The former Gunners has claimed that Ben White should be given the captaincy role for the new campaign.
Arsenal’s two previous permanent captains have been stripped of the role due to disciplinary issues, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departing the club in the January transfer window and Granit Xhaka losing the captaincy in 2019.
Alexandre Lacazette, Kieran Tierney and Martin Odegaard took the responsibility of captaining the side on a temporary basis last season following Aubameyang's January exit. Despite White not being among those given the role over the last six months, Merson believes that the England defender will assume the responsibility next season.
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Speaking to SportsKeeda, Merson said: "Arsenal will have to pick a new captain next season, and I think it'll probably be Ben White. They need a player who can lead on the pitch with his performances, and White fits the bill."
The Gunners signed White for £50million in the summer transfer window. It was a decision that both Edu and Mikel Arteta were criticised for - especially after veteran winner Raphael Varane moved to Manchester United for considerably less (£35million) than Arsenal paid for the Englishman. However, White has shown his worth in red and white and is now very much part of Arteta's long-term plan.
The England international and Gabriel Magalhaes are developing an excellent partnership at the heart of the defence, and the two players have created a foundation for Arteta’s rebuilding process that further proves Edu is getting his recruitment policy spot on.
The Englishman was the second-most-used player by Arteta this season, showing the importance of the defender to the team - which certainly could be a reason for the Spaniard to make him Arsenal captain.
However, Tierney and Odegaard have been Arteta’s selected captains in the absence of Lacazette, who has now left the club after Arsenal announced his departure on Friday afternoon, meaning it is likely that they will be the Spaniard’s desired choice to be the club’s permanent captain.
