Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard both discussed the player’s captaincy credentials in the build-up to Arsenal’s match this weekend.

Speaking to the media in the build-up to Arsenal’s trip to Watford, Mikel Arteta suggested Martin Odegaard is on the path to becoming club captain for the Gunners.

“He is moving in the right way,” Arteta said. “He is the national team captain. He is one of the senior players here, for sure, even at his age, and it comes very naturally to him.

“His whole mindset, the way he prepares himself, the way he treats people, the way he plays the game, is just exactly what we want from an Arsenal player.”

Odegaard himself was also speaking about the Arsenal armband this week, in an interview with Norwegian outlet TV2, but he played down the suggestions that he’s targeting the role in the near future.

“If it happens one day, of course, it’s great and all, but it kind of does not change much for me,” Odegaard said.

“I’m not going to change as a person if that happens. I do not feel that I changed when I became captain of the national team.

“I do my thing, and then there is a little more responsibility involved, but it is not important to me.”

Arsenal obviously have a decision to make on the club captaincy this summer.

They can choose to extend Alexandre Lacazette’s contract, which would likely see him slot into the role by default – if he accepts. But if he leaves, Arteta has to choose someone as the new first-choice captain.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell recently suggested Kieran Tierney is the favourite, and it’s hard to argue with that.

The left-back has already taken on the armband when Lacazette goes off, and he’s been with the club a little longer than someone like Odegaard. It’s ultimately up to Arteta to decide.