Former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton believes a player at Mikel Arteta’s disposal is actually a surprise candidate to be Arsenal’s captain one day.
Martin Odegaard is currently Arteta’s skipper, with the Norwegian supposedly being voted in by his teammates before the new season commenced.
However, the Norwegian’s reserved persona has prompted many to question whether a more extroverted character within the Gunners’ squad should take the reins.
Tony Adams is convinced that Declan Rice should be made Arsenal captain, while Gabriel Magalhaes has also been cited as a potential option for this role.
Warren Barton thinks William Saliba could be Arsenal captain
William Saliba is set to sign a new contract at Arsenal, which will keep him in North London until 2030.
The Frenchman has established himself as one of the key pillars in Arteta’s team in recent years, and has now demonstrated his loyalty to the Gunners by committing his future to them.
As he ages and has more years as an Arsenal player under his belt, it’s inevitable that Saliba will be elevated into the leadership group in N5.
However, still only 24 and not an outwardly rambunctious personality, it may be too early to place this responsibility onto the player’s shoulders.
That said, Barton doesn’t believe this is the case, suggesting Saliba is a viable captain option when discussing this topic on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel.
“I do agree with Tony with what he said about captains,” Barton said.
“You know, Saliba might be an ideal one to give it to, but he’s been injured. But, you know, Declan Rice to me stands out as a captain. You know, I think that’s important in a club that is trying to win things.”
Martin Odegaard should remain Arsenal captain
Ultimately, this discussion should be redundant because Odegaard is in possession of the captain’s armband at the moment.
Who wears this armband has more symbolic value than tangible value, with the leaders in Arsenal’s squad capable of expressing this leadership with or without this status.
Stripping Odegaard of this honour would merely create issues regarding squad harmony, and would undoubtedly harm the midfielder’s confidence.
While pundits on the outside may believe the captaincy is a pressing concern, the players have spoken with their vote and are more than content with the situation as it is, which is the most important thing.
Arteta has been able to block out this noise regarding the captaincy, and he must keep doing so.
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