Mikel Arteta officially announces Arsenal’s new captain for 2021/22 campaign

Arsenal has been a club that always has controversies with its captains as the most recent one being the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scuffle that saw the Gabon international lose the armband due to repeated disciplinary penalties. And not to forget that Aubameyang only got made captain by Unai Emery after Granit Xhaka had a bust up with the supporters in the stadium.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally said goodbye to his time at Arsenal at the end of the January transfer window when he left for Barcelona and now that Mikel Arteta has that behind him, he has for the first time confirmed who will be the club’s captain until the end of this season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed today that Alexandre Lacazette would be the captain of the North Londoners until the end of the season ending speculations that claimed that the most likely long contracted players such as Tierney, Saka or White would immediately be done captain. Here’s what Mikel Arteta had to say when asked whether Lacazette would be captain until end of the season and also talked more about the leadership of his squad.

NORWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Norwich City and Arsenal at Carrow Road on December 26, 2021 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

“Lacazette is the captain at the moment yes.” Mikel Arteta told Arsenal Media.

“We have some exceptional senior players that are really helping. Why the young players are doing so well is because they have the senior players next to them giving the example.”

“The togetherness and the chemistry that I saw in the last two weeks, a little bit out of the competition, we haven’t had time since I’ve been here because of Covid, two years without pre-season, without having time to spend together.”

“It’s the thing probably that I’m most proud of and not only around the players, but the staff and the real chemistry that is there. That is something that is going to stay here.”