Who is Arsenal captain in 2022-23 & who has previously worn the armband for the Gunners?

Just 12 men have filled the role of club captain at Arsenal during the Premier League era, with a notable roll of honour featuring illustrious names such as Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and current coach Mikel Arteta.

Various other players have filled an on-field leadership post at times, with the armband having been passed around at Emirates Stadium following the January departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but few can claim to have enjoyed the honour of being permanent skipper.

Another big call in that department has been made ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, as the Gunners look to establish consistency and stability on and off the pitch, but who are the contenders to get that nod? GOAL takes a look...

Who is Arsenal captain for 2022-23?

Arsenal announced on July 30 that Martin Odegaard had been appointed as the club's new captain.

The 23-year-old only joined the Gunners in 2021 although has made a big impact during his time in England and Mikel Arteta has decided to reward him with the armband.

Who were the candidates to be Arsenal captain?

With Aubameyang being stripped of captaincy duties in December 2021 following a breach of club discipline, Arsenal needed somebody else to lead from the front.

Alexandre Lacazette took on that responsibility on a regular basis since seeing a fellow frontman offloaded to Barcelona in the winter transfer window, but he left for Lyon in the summer, leaving a gap to fill.

Martin Odegaard

With Lacazette having moved on, Martin Odegaard became a go-to option when it came to wearing the prestigious armband.

The Norwegian playmaker is already captain of his country and had suggested that he would welcome an opportunity to become full-time skipper in north London.

Odegaard has told TV2: “It's big, of course, but it does not change much. I feel like I'm doing the same things.

“There are more people around who think about it. But it is a great recognition and a great declaration of trust. I take that as a big compliment, but beyond that I do the same as always.”

Kieran Tierney

The 2021-22 campaign was another frustrating one for Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney, with surgery required on a knee problem that has kept him out of action since the end of March.

He remains a reliable selection choice for Arteta when fit, though, and would've appeared to have been a popular appointment among Arsenal fans were he have to have been called forward to take on the captaincy role.

Arteta has previously said of Tierney’s ability to lead by example: “I think he can be Arsenal captain as he has the respect and admiration of every member of the staff and every player. It is just the way he is. He does it in a natural way.

“He is a really shy boy as well but he represents all of us in the club; all of the values that we want to instil and are in the DNA in this club.”

Granit Xhaka

Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka would've completed a remarkable turnaround with the Gunners were he to have been appointed as permanent skipper ahead of the new season.

The combative 29-year-oldfilled that role once before, but was demoted in November 2019 following a very public outburst against Arsenal supporters as he was booed from the field during a meeting with Crystal Palace.

He has worked his way back into favour since then and told Sky Sports when asked about taking the armband for a second time: “I will never say never. I was not ready for that again.

“A captain of Arsenal can be without an armband and I am trying to lead the game and the players without the armband, but if tomorrow someone from the football club comes and asks if I want to take it I will be here because I know I am ready again to do it.”

Aaron Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale is now a full England international and first choice between the sticks, with the confident character have previously stated that he would be happy to become skipper if asked.

He told FourFourTwo: “Listen, I’d take the responsibility but that’s down to the manager.

“We’ve got a lot of strong characters, though, and a lot of people who I think would be good captains.

“Just to be told 'you’re in a leadership role' – I’d relish whatever. You never turn down a captaincy and I think I’d excel if I was given the armband, but that’s down to the boss.”

Arsenal captains in the Premier League era