Martin Odegaard has explained the decision to make Oleksandr Zinchenko Arsenal captain during Saturday's Premier League clash against Leicester City.
The Gunners secured all three points at the King Power Stadium thanks to a second-half Gabriel Martinelli finish, maintaining their two-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the league table. Mikel Arteta's side lined up with a different skipper, with Odegaard handing the armband to Zinchenko as the club explained that the decision was in respect to mark one-year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
“I spoke to some people in the club yesterday and then I went to Mikel and suggested it for him,” Odegaard said when asked about giving the armband to the former Manchester City full-back. “It was a nice thing to do to show him the support.
READ MORE: Why William Saliba fumed at Gabriel and pushed Arsenal defender after crucial win at Leicester
"It’s been a year now, too long, it’s a very difficult situation for him I know and very emotional. It was a good thing to do to show our support.
"I spoke to him this morning, asked if he was comfortable doing it. When he’s on the pitch he’s always 100 percent focused and always there.
"He doesn’t let him affect him but of course it’s not an easy thing for him, his family and everyone there. We just wanted to show him the support.
“We did a lot of the normal things, he always speaks before the games, I speak, others speak. It was the same today, before the game he said some words.”
READ NEXT:
Why Gabriel shouted at Jorginho as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal January transfer decision pays off
Thomas Partey, Jesus, Saka: Arsenal injury news and return dates ahead of Everton clash
Why William Saliba fumed at Gabriel and pushed Arsenal defender after crucial win at Leicester
'No longer a soft touch' - National media react to Arsenal's crucial win vs Leicester
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
