Arsenal: 4 reasons Martin Odegaard should be named captain

Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 2, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

3 of 4

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: manager Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

3. Martin Odegaard Has the Trust of Arteta and His Teammates

It’s all well and good being a leader on the pitch with your words and your influence on the match itself, but you must have the trust of those around you or else it is all worthless.

Whatever one may think of Odegaard there is no denying that he isn’t one of the more trusted members of this squad. When information needs relaying on the touchline it is the No. 8 who is ushered over by Arteta to pass on tactical notes, and his exceptional technical level sees his teammates often look to him for invention.

"“We have a tremendous player,” Arteta said of him back in December. “He is a natural leader if you look for perfect professional he wouldn’t be very far from that.”"

The role of a captain is often diluted or heralded as something more important than it actually is. Yet trust remains a vital ingredient and it’s noticeable across the whole club what high regard Odegaard is held in.

Equally, the fans trust Odegaard. His loan spell garnered mixed reviews from supporters who saw dashes of brilliance intertwined with slight lulls, similar to the early stages of this season where he took time to find his feet again. But now there is nobody who would even consider not including him in their starting lineup.

He has everyone’s trust.

Continued on next page…

Home/Arsenal News