"We need someone with balls" "Absolute disaster" - Arsenal fans slam Arteta's 'embarrassing' decision as 23-year-old edges closer to being named club captain

As per afcstuff (via Sport Bible), Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard is set to be the club's new captain, and Gunners fans aren't happy with the decision. They vented their frustration on Twitter, with some stating that the Norwegian doesn't have what it takes to be the leader of the pack.

The north London side juggled captaincy between players last season after the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January. Alexandre Lacazette was named captain with Kieran Tierney as his deputy.

However, with both players injured, Odegaard was named captain by Mikel Arteta in the final few games of the season.

Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, he was unable to lead the side to a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League as they collapsed in the final few games of the season. They finished fifth after losing to rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in high-pressure must-win games.

They will now look to better that and compete for trophies next season. Lacazette left the club this summer and joined Olympique Lyon on a free transfer.

Moreover, with Arteta building a young side, Odegaard is set to be given the armband ahead of the 2022-23 season. Arsenal fans took to Twitter to share their disappointment at the decision.

Many Arsenal fans believe that either Tierney or goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale should have been made captain. It will be interesting to see how Odegaard leads his team in the upcoming season.

Notably, the 23-year-old midfielder is the captain of the Norwegian national team.

Arsenal's summer transfer window so far

The Gunners have had a splendid summer transfer window, signing four players so far.

They signed goalkeeper Matt Turner from New England Revolution. They had an agreement in place with the American keeper in February itself but he joined them this summer.

The Gunners also signed winger Marquinhos from Sao Paulo and midfielder Fabio Vieira from Porto. The latter was the second-highest assist provider in the Liga Portugal last season, with 14 assists in 27 matches.

Arsenal have also added Gabriel Jesus to their ranks, signing him from Manchester City for £45 million plus add-ons. The Brazilian scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 matches for the Cityzens across all competitions.

Arteta will look to integrate these new signings into his system during their pre-season. Their first pre-season match ended in a 5-3 win over Nurnburg in Germany on Friday, July 8. They will now face Everton on July 17 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, in the US.

About the author

Aditya has been working as a European football journalist and editor for Sportskeeda for close to 4 years. He boasts a total experience of over 7 years, and always aims to inculcate proper context in his articles, making the most of his prior stints in writing and marketing across a number of different industries over the years. He has also played football at college level for 2 years.

A B.Tech. graduate, Aditya's journey as an ardent football fan began after watching the elegant maestro Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final. He has been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur's front foot and creative football since 2008 and connect's with the club's underdog status.

Aditya, who is a Sportskeeda 'Long-form Editor of the Month' award winner, is a big admirer of Luka Modric's elegant and hard-working style of play. His favorite manager is Carlo Ancelotti because the Italian allows his players enough freedom in an age where micromanagement is the established norm.

Aditya feels Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala could replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their incredible collective potential. In his free time, he likes to read classical fiction, travel to places, and explore a variety of foods.

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