Arsenal: Petr Cech Would Be Desperation Captain

Arsenal is still in need of a captain as much as a DM but with no likely long-term candidates, is Wenger really considering Petr Cech?

Arsenal do not follow the traditional methods of finding a captain. Arsene Wenger does not look for someone to make a long-term impact on the club. Either that or he just doesn’t feel like any of his long term options are viable, captain material. Whatever the case, the next rumored captain is a bit surprising.

While it is purely speculation from the Mirror, the report indicates that Arsene Wenger could look to Petr Cech to lead the troops come next year. After all, Mikel Arteta’s contract has run its course and supposedly Per Mertesacker is not going to be as regular as he has been this year.

So Arsene Wenger would naturally want someone that is going to have more of an on-the-pitch presence than Arteta and Mertesacker. Why he has to wait until they move on is a topic for another day.

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In no way am I trying to downplay the impact that Petr Cech has had on the pitch this year. He has been an absolute life saver for Arsenal. Or point saver I should say. Without him, Arsenal would be nowhere near the position they are in. And while we can’t know what goes on behind closed doors, any move to make Petr Cech captain feels like something out of desperation.

For the past handful of years, the captain’s armband has been nothing more than a trinket given to an experienced player. Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker – these are not crucial, long term captains. They are players who have been in the game awhile. Mertesacker made more sense than anyone, at least he won a World Cup.

Is Arsenal really so devoid of leaders? What about Olivier Giroud? Giroud came to Arsenal in 2012 as the Ligue 1 golden boot winner. Since then, he has improved every single year and has proven to be Arsenal through and through. He has become such a vital piece of this offense that he has been statistically proven to be more valuable than Robin van Persie. Yet RVP was the captain and apparently Giroud is not being considered.

And I know I beat this point to death, but what about establishing a new, young captain like Aaron Ramsey or Francis Coquelin? Two guys that live and breathe for the club and can be a central piece of the squad for years to come?