Martin Odegaard says it’s a big achievement to take on the permanent captaincy role at Arsenal, and a proud moment for him.

Alexandre Lacazette left Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer, vacating his role as captain and giving Mikel Arteta a decision to make on his replacement for the position.

The Gunners announced that decision on Saturday, naming Martin Odegaard as Lacazette’s replacement as captain.

The midfielder quickly had the chance to pull on the armband in front of the Emirates Stadium crowd, as Arsenal faced Sevilla in the Emirates Cup. It ended up being a winning start for the Norwegian international, as he captained the side to a 6-0 victory.

Speaking after the game, Odegaard explained his reaction to the news he would be receiving the armband.

“Of course I was happy, proud, and grateful for the trust and for him (Arteta) wanting me to be the captain,” Odegaard said.

“That’s a big achievement for me and it’s nice to be part of such a good team, so I’m going to enjoy that.”

The Sevilla trouncing meant Odegaard was immediately called upon to lift the Emirates Cup. Whilst it’s only a pre-season accolade, it’s still a nice way to kick things off.

“Yeah, not a bad start,” Odegaard admitted. “So that’s good. Of course, it’s a big moment for me and I’m very proud to be captain of this fantastic football club. Yeah, a big day for me.”

The news wasn’t exactly a shock, with Odegaard wearing the armband throughout pre-season.

The only potential rival for the role was Kieran Tierney, as his absence in pre-season meant it was unclear whether he’d be above or below Odegaard in the pecking order when he was available.

But perhaps Tierney’s extended absence helped make the decision for Arteta. Ideally, you want your captain to be playing games, and right now Odegaard is more reliable on that front.