Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to choose new full-time captain at end of season with Tierney and Odegaard in running
MIKEL ARTETA will choose a new full-time Arsenal captain at the end of the season.
Alexandre Lacazette has temporarily taken the captains armband after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was relieved of the role in December for a 'disciplinary breach' and had his contract terminated in January.
Arsenal have thrived since but Lacazette's stand-in role is only short term.
The Frenchman is out on contract come the end of June and is being linked with a return to Lyon.
And so, Champions League-chasing Arsenal will appoint a new club captain in the summer when the season is over and players' futures are decided.
On when a decision will be made, Arteta said: "There will be a thorough process in the summer, when we have time, when we have no competitions.
"We will do it the right way, the way I want to do it.”
Kieran Tierney was briefly captain in Saturday's 2-1 win over Brentford.
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The Scotland international is a fan favourite at the Emirates and would almost certainly be in the running for the full-time gig.
Arsenal also have Martin Odegaard in their ranks, who captains Norway at international level.
Arteta understands the situation is 'confusing' but insists it's an issue the club do not need right now.
He continued: "It’s not easy, I understand it’s confusing.
"But you have to understand we have a lot of issues – and more captaincy issues, I guarantee, is not what we need.”
The Gunners are in control of their own destiny and returning back to the Champions League after five years is a real possibility.
Arsenal are just one point off fourth place Manchester United with two games in hand.
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