Over the past year or so, a lot has changed at Arsenal both on and off the field, but one area still has some uncertainty: the captaincy.
With a “leadership group” rather than a single leader, the armband has been passed around a lot lately. The armband have been passed alot with Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Alexandre Lacazette, to have handled the position though the last two have since left the club.
It implies that there is now a chance for someone to get it going forward on a more consistent basis, and it’s something that could become clearer over the course of pre-season. While Tierney is also well-liked, Odegaard seems to be the overall favorite. However, Arteta’s choice may be influenced by concerns about Tierney’s history of injuries.
The Arsenal team is, arguably, in the best physical and psychological shape it has been in a very long time, which is a good thing. The team is cohesive, encouraging of one another, and positive overall. Many of them have the potential to be leaders, and as Arteta looks to grow throughout the summer, more contenders might emerge.
With the signing of Fabio Vieira, precisely that has occurred. A lot has been made about his technical skill and attacking prowess in the previous few days as I’ve learned so much more about him as a player, so I was pleasantly surprised to realize that he also possesses some leadership skills.
We have a lot more than simply a player who will score goals and provide assists, it became evident after reading an interview that Arsenal performed with Portuguese football journalist Tom Kundert.
Tom replied, “He’s very much been in charge of that Portugal Under-21 team for the past year or so. “It’s interesting to watch him point, direct his colleagues, and set up the attack. Additionally, he does it extremely well.”
Without a doubt, this was one of the many reasons Arteta wanted to sign him. He has the adaptability, talent, and quality, but under the Spaniard, having some level of leadership can also be highly beneficial.
Vieira’s position at the international level can be compared to that of Norway’s captain, Odegaard. Although he may not have held a comparable position at other clubs, he has for his nation, and this has made him a top prospect at Arsenal.
Given his inexperience and those who are already ahead of him in the pecking order, it must be acknowledged that Vieira’s chances of being named Arsenal’s captain for the upcoming season are not high. Nevertheless, there is no reason why the 22-year-old can’t soon follow in the footsteps of Odegaard and hold the position. It appears he has the necessary skill set to carry out that particular task.
