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) /

4 of 4

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

4. Martin Odegaard is Only Going to Get Better

It is impossible to envisage an Arsenal team this season and the seasons to come doesn’t have Odegaard in the No. 10 position. The level he’s found at the club is the best he’s produced to date, and there is no denying that he can and will continue to develop as a player.

Surrounding by youngsters like Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Sambi Lokonga, he, like the rest, will grow as a player and improve with each game he plays.

As much as the key qualities of a captain often relate to matters away from ability, the person wearing the armband ideally has to be someone who is going to be a mainstay in the team. Arteta is a fine example of a former captain whose latter years saw his legs struggle to cope with the demands of the division and he barely played before he hung up his boots.

Odegaard is one of the cornerstones in this new look Arsenal that, barring any remarkable circumstances, will be in the team each and every time he’s available for a healthy number of years.

If all of the above qualities are what they already are, just like his overall game is improving, the others will too. This is a player destined for the very top, one who deserves to be playing Champions League football.

Next. Ramsdale on the up?. dark

On his and Arsenal’s current trajectory, that isn’t too far away. He should be the one leading them into it.

Home/Arsenal News