Arsenal getting vital seniority from their new captain

The captain’s armband at Arsenal has not been the most welcome of honours to assume. Initial happiness at becoming captain quickly descends into chaos and calamity. It’s more of a curse than a privilege.

Could Martin Odegaard be the man to buck that trend?

Leading his team out for the third time in his Arsenal career in the 3-1 win over Manchester United, rarely ever before has this team needed its senior players to step up.

With the losses of Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney, as well as the change in personnel up front with Eddie Nketiah now leading the line in place of Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal are thin on elder statesmen in the quest for a top four spot.

Arsenal getting vital seniority from their new captain Martin Odegaard with vital Premier League wins when he led the team out

Remarkably, the side that went to Stamford Bridge and won in the Premier League would have been eligible to play in a Under-23 match. Every player except three were 23 years old or younger at the start of the season, with a maximum of three over 23 allowed in a team.

There is young, and then there is very young.

Odegaard is one of the players who slots into the ‘young’ category. Looking at the team that beat United, from an age point of view it would have been Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Cedric who would class as senior. But Odegaard, especially as captain, belongs in that group.

When you as trusted as he is, as vocal, and as technically and tactically superior, immediately responsibility falls on your shoulders. Even though Bukayo Saka is 20 years old it’s him who bears so much of the scoring burden, for example. Being part of the lineup demands something regardless of age.

Across the team at present, if there are any two players that Arsenal need to play well in order to secure a result, it’s Xhaka and Odegaard. The Swiss has been around, he knows the place, whereas Odegaard has thrust himself into the equation solely on his character and quality. Being handed the captain’s armband accentuates his importance.

It’s no surprise that in the previous two matches that Arsenal have won, both Xhaka and Odegaard have been excellent. Now more than ever this team has to rely on its most trusted lieutenants and Odegaard, whether young or not, is richly experienced and firmly in that camp.

To use a term that Arteta has coined, it’s what he ‘transmits’ which is equally as crucial as his ability on the ball. One need just look at the first four seconds of the win over United to see him charge like a bull down on Raphael Varane. He set the tone immediately. Fast forward 90 minutes and it was exactly the same energy and commitment demonstrated on the opposite side of the pitch.

When Odegaard makes the game his own is when he comes alive. That’s what captains need to do: take the initiative and inspire those around him.

Odegaard has insisted that wearing the armband doesn’t change him, or the way he conducts himself. That’s a unique quality because it’s seniority without being technically ‘senior’. These are natural traits of his. Infectious qualities that improve those around him.

It tells us a lot about this special player, one who will go on to have a fabulous career, most likely as the permanent Gunners captain.