Martin Odegaard, a midfielder for Arsenal, has been named the club’s captain for the 2022–23 campaign.
On Saturday, the Gunners played Sevilla in the Emirates Cup, and the team took advantage of the opportunity to make the announcement that the Norwegian would be the starter for the following season.
Last season, Odegaard featured in 40 games for Arsenal, appearing in all 90 minutes in their final 10 Premier League contests.
Former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette assumed the captain’s role on an unofficial basis when former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left for Barcelona.
Kieran Tierney, Aaron Ramsdale, and former captain Granit Xhaka were also considered contenders, but Odegaard has been given the edge.
Arsenal’s No. 8 is now the league’s second-youngest captain, with Declan Rice of West Ham being the youngest after he replaced Mark Noble, who retired in the summer. The 23-year-old defender Lloyd Kelly leads Bournemouth, another team with a young captain.
Martin Odegaard was named the new captain of the men’s first team, much to the satisfaction of Arsenal.
The 23-year-old, initially on loan from Real Madrid, has had a significant influence since joining Emirates Stadium in January 2021. Since then, he has played 60 times and scored nine goals.
In the summer of that year, Arteta signed the Norwegian to a permanent £30 million ($41m) contract after he made an impression in his first six months with the Gunners.
His performance declined at the beginning of the 2021–22 season, but he rebounded in the second part of the year and established himself as a regular in the starting XI, scoring in the 5–1 victory over Everton on the last day.
As Norway’s captain since March 2021, Odegaard has experience holding the position. He has earned 43 caps for Norway.
It won’t be Odegaard’s first time serving as Arsenal captain in a competitive match, though, when the new season begins. In April 2022, when Arsenal defeated Chelsea 4-2, he served as the captain.
Martin has the support of Arsenal as they wish him well in his new role.
Odegaard is indeed a responsible guy and deserves the role.💯