Arsenal: Why isn’t Stephan Lichtsteiner a club captain?

Maybe it’s asking a bit much for a new signing to be made captain immediately, but aren’t Arsenal deserving of a captain like Stephan Lichtsteiner?

Arsenal‘s club captaincy is a bit confusing. Laurent Koscielny is the overall captain, but in his stead, there are four vice captains: Petr Cech, Granit Xhaka (yay!), Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil. It’s quite the array of captains, of all different varieties, and that was the point.

But my question, as the title of the article gives away, is why Stephan Lichtsteiner wasn’t given one of the apparently numerous armbands. I know, it’s asking a bit much to give a new signing the armband, but if ever there was a time to make an exception, surely it is with Stephan Lichtsteiner, the captain of the Swiss national team and a guy who has won just about everything.

There is one thing that always strikes me about the Swiss national team, and that is the order that they maintain. In a World Cup that was characterized by all kinds of twists and turns, the Swiss side was always perfectly regimented and controlled. Granted, they had their limitations, they don’t boast one of the biggest talent pools in the international spectrum.

But with Stephan Lichtsteiner as their captain, they were able to control tempos and even control games thanks to a well-regimented and orderly approach.

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It makes me wonder how much of an impact Lichtsteiner would have on a much bigger talent pool at Arsenal if he were given a similar task – maintaining order and control. Granted, how much being a captain actually impacts a club is up for interpretation, but Lichtsteiner is like a career captain. It’s always been his job. So would it be so crazy to task him with maintaining the club on the pitch?

That would, of course, also require that he were, at times, on the pitch. This is something I have been clamoring for after seeing how well he handled himself against Manchester City, but has thus far eluded the reliable veteran.

Lichtsteiner spoke out about his desire to get the club back into the Champions League and, oddly enough, this is the first we are hearing a player speak about the goals of the season. But the way Lichtsteiner said it, he made it sound as though he, personally, would see the Gunners back into the Champions league.

I couldn’t love that mentality anymore, and I can’t wait to see what he is able to do for himself as he takes control of the Europa League or, more ideally, the Premier League. Even if he doesn’t have an armband.