Arteta pushing Arsenal to signal PL star who may usurp Odegaard as captain

Final season was a difficult one for Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal facet, with accidents and poor type curtailling any ambition for glory.

Issues are trying very completely different this 12 months, although, because the Gunners sit atop each Premier League and Champions League tables, are by to the Fourth Spherical of the FA Cup and are gearing up for a League Cup semi-final in opposition to cross-city rivals Chelsea.

This season is de facto beginning to really feel just like the one wherein the North Londoners lastly recover from the road in a number of competitions, and a giant cause why is the standard and depth added to the squad in the summertime.

Amazingly, it seems as if Arteta and Co need to add much more high quality to the squad this 12 months, with studies closely linking them with a high Premier League star who may even problem captain Martin Odegaard for the armband.

Arsenal goal their subsequent captain

Whereas final season was a tricky one for all the Arsenal crew, it felt notably so for Odegaard.

The Norwegian suffered a reasonably important ankle damage early on, and when he got here again into the fold, he regarded miles off the tempo and shadow of his former mercurial self.

Happily, as this season has gone on, the previous Actual Madrid wonderkid has began to look extra just like the midfielder who received back-to-back participant of the season awards simply a few years in the past.

For instance, FBref have ranked the 27-year-old within the high 1% of midfielders within the Premier League for progressive passes, the highest 3% for shot-creating actions, the highest 6% for assists and extra, all per 90.

In different phrases, as long as he can stay match, and his upward trajectory continues, his place within the midfield is fairly safe this season.

Nonetheless, there has at all times been conjecture over his function as captain, and it now seems just like the membership are eager to signal somebody who may present him with much more competitors for the armband subsequent season.

Not less than that’s in keeping with a latest report from Soccer Transfers, which claims Arsenal are nonetheless inquisitive about Marc Guehi.

In reality, the report has revealed that Arteta is now pushing the membership laborious to signal the Crystal Palace star when his contract expires in the summertime.

Nonetheless, Liverpool have the identical thought, and Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless pushing for his signature this month.

It may due to this fact be a sophisticated switch to recover from the road, however given Guehi’s immense capacity, it is one Arsenal ought to battle for, even when he may usurp Odegaard as captain.

Why Guehi may usurp Odegaard as captain

Now, it ought to be stated that there’s each probability that Guehi joins Arsenal in the summertime and that Odegaard stays captain for the foreseeable future.

In any case, his teammates picked him, and Arteta seems glad sufficient with him within the function.

Nonetheless, it is unimaginable to disregard that his function as membership captain has lengthy been some extent of rivalry amongst sections of the fanbase and sure pundits.

In reality, it was solely final 12 months that Mr Arsenal himself acknowledged, “You are not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.”

Furthermore, the truth that the Norwegian is extra of a quiet chief definitely does not assist in a sport that has nearly at all times seen essentially the most vocal and imposing characters elevated to management positions.

So, with the case in opposition to the Drammen-born maestro clear, what’s it about Guehi that would see him finally usurp him for the armband?

Effectively, at first, he’s already the captain of Crystal Palace and has been for a while.

Greater than that, he was additionally among the many youngest gamers within the membership’s historical past to steer the crew when he was given the prospect at simply 21 years previous in 2022.

As if that wasn’t already spectacular sufficient, the defensive “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Bobby Manzi, can also be the one captain within the membership’s historical past to make them a serious honour: final season’s FA Cup.

It is not simply at membership degree the place the previous Chelsea gem has stepped up, although, as he is now received 26 senior caps, was one of the essential gamers throughout the 2024 Euros, and is arguably the nation’s high centre-back.

Lastly, regardless of being simply 25 years previous, the Abidjan-born titan has in depth expertise.

Along with his worldwide performances, he has made two appearances for the Blues, 59 for Swansea Metropolis and 188 for Palace.

Finally, if Arsenal can signal Guehi this summer time, they need to, even when his arrival may, sooner or later, result in a change of captain.

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