Arsenal: 4 reasons Martin Odegaard should be named captain

2. He is the Tactical & Technical Leader

When the pandemic forced football to be played behind closed doors it opened up the game in a whole new world to the fans watching on from home. Usually encapsulated by the noise of the crowd, suddenly you could hear each and every voice on the pitch, as well as the relentless barking of orders from Arteta on the sidelines.

While he may have only been at the club on loan at the time, Odegaard stood out as one of the most vocal players in the entire squad. Arsenal’s ‘open mic’ series was a fascinating insight into the on-field hierarchy at Arsenal.

Odegaard is the tactical leader on that pitch just as much as he is the technical leader. Even if the likes of Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe and Lacazette in front of him, as well as Thomas Partey behind him, it was the Norwegian who was instructing, guiding and leading where his teammates should go, which action to take, and when to push forward.

Always in dialogue with those around him, there is a natural leadership to his style that one wouldn’t normally see befitting of a generally reserved and quiet character off the pitch. His voice may be soft when he’s describing his favourite meal for an Arsenal promotional video but there is nothing laid back about the orders he issues when he crosses that white line.

When he is in full swing, which is a far more regular occurrence now, this feels more like his team. His technical quality and tactical intelligence lead the team by example and by vocality. Everything feels natural with him, and that is a vital quality.

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