Arsenal

Arsenal: Charles Watts tips Gunners maestro to fill huge club role

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Image for Arsenal: Charles Watts tips Gunners maestro to fill huge club role

GOAL’s Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts believes that Martin Odegaard will become club captain this season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed the armband at the beginning of last season before being stripped of the title as he sought a move to Barcelona.

Alexandre Lacazette was then appointed the locker room leader despite being out of favour and has since left the club, leaving manager Mikel Arteta with a decision to make this summer.

Speaking on the matter, the Spanish coach has said it has been a topic that has been discussed and was even asked about the possibility of handing his Norwegian ace the role to which he admitted that Odegaard has a lot of the ‘qualities’ he is looking for in a captain. Now following comments made by Arteta, Watts feels all signals point toward one man being given the responsibility.

Talking on his YouTube channel he said:

(9:34)”I think it’s going to be Odegaard but until it’s confirmed by Mikel Arteta we can’t guarantee that.

“Martin Odegaard again stands out for me. Kieran Tierney is certainly another person who’d be in the running for it but for me I think that bit when he (Arteta) says ‘For me the most important thing is that other people whether it’s coaches, staff members, players when they talk they listen to you. I think that’s the thing with Odegaard.

“Everyone does listen to Odegaard. When Arteta has messages on the pitch that he wants to get across it’s always Martin Odegaard who comes across to talk to Arteta.

“He seems to be the player on the pitch that he goes to.”

TIF Thoughts on Odegaard and Arsenal…

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The 23-year-old led out the team in a recent friendly and certainly led by example with his performances for the Gunners last season.

He finished second to Bukayo Saka in the club’s player of the season award and was one of the north London club’s chief creators with five assists as well as leading the side for chances created with 77.

Odegaard was Arteta’s second most used player in the most recent campaign and he certainly seems to have the trust of his manager while time will soon tell whether or not he sees him as the right man to lead the side.

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