Darren Bent has made it clear that he would have Alexandre Lacazette, Ben White, Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney as Arsenal’s next permanent captain ahead of Martin Odegaard, as he told talkSPORT (22/02/22 at 6:45 am).
The former Premier League striker claimed that if Lacazette stays at Arsenal, beyond the summer, then ‘he has to have the armband’.
The Frenchman is currently the leader of the pack, with the decision to hand somebody that long-term role to be made in the summer.
By then, Lacazette could be out of the door because his contract in north London expires.
It was put to boyhood Arsenal fan, Bent, that there are suggestions it could be Odegaard, but he explained why he was ‘not sure’ about that possible call.
“That’s the problem with Arsenal,” said Bent. “If Lacazette signs a new contract and stays, then he has to have the armband.
“Even if he doesn’t play as much. I think as club captain, he looks like a proper leader. The players look like they enjoy playing with Lacazette as well.
“Odegaard, I like him. But is he the most vocal? I am not quite sure.
“Then you start looking around the Arsenal dressing room. Thomas Partey, if he can stay fit, potentially. Ben White would be the one or Tierney. There would be a couple before Odegaard.”
The last two permanent Arsenal captains – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka – were stripped of their roles.
So, whoever does take that armband down the line will have a tough task facing them.
Odegaard does have the advantage that he is the captain of Norway, so he has experience on that front.
But are there more vocal leaders around the dressing room that Mikel Arteta is better off appointing? Or is Odegaard showcasing qualities behind the scenes that the fans aren’t seeing?
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