Jamie Redknapp believes that giving Martin Odegaard the permanent Arsenal captaincy armband just "feels right."
Odegaard, 23, wore the armband in Arsenal's 2-1 win over West Ham and has done in the last three games against Southampton, Chelsea, Manchester United. But whether the Norwegian midfielder will become the permanent skipper remains to be seen as boss Mikel Arteta is yet to name Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's successor after he was stripped the captaincy before his move to Barcelona in February.
Alexandre Lacazette had been wearing the armband until recently, but with the likelihood of him departing as a free agent in the summer, Kieran Tierney and Odegaard have been tipped to become the new captain. While Granit Xhaka, who was stripped of the armband in 2019, revealed he would be willing to take it if he was called upon. "I will never say never," Xhaka told Sky Sports. "A captain of Arsenal can be without an armband and I am trying to lead the game and the players without the armband, if tomorrow someone from the football club comes and asks if I want to take it I will be here because I know I am ready again to do it."
Speaking after Arsenal 's win at West Ham, Redknapp said: "By bringing him into the team, they might have stumbled across a problem that’s caused Arsenal for a few years, the captaincy. Xhaka was captain for a while, didn’t really work, [then] Aubameyang, then they give it to Lacazette. It was almost that no-one wanted to be.
"But giving it to Odegaard, it feels right for me. He may not be the most vocal but when you watch him play, he organises people, he plays the right pass. He’s a lovely player to watch.
"You can see from Mikel Arteta’s point of view, he’s almost his manager on the pitch. It might be one where, he’s there for the future, he’s a fantastic player, good type of guy as well. It’s a masterstroke from Arteta."
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Although Odegaard recognises that being the forefront leader brings a certain type of pressure, he insisted he is ready to embrace the challenge. "It's big, of course, but it does not change much. I feel like I'm doing the same things," he told tv2sport.
"There are more people around who think about it. But it is a great recognition and a great declaration of trust. I take that as a big compliment, but beyond that I do the same as always."
The 23-year-old made the £34million move from Spanish giants Real Madrid last summer, following an initial loan spell at the Emirates. The Norwegian playmaker quickly settled into Arteta's team and has contributed to six goals and four assists in his 32 league appearances this season.
