Why Alexandre Lacazette shouted at Granit Xhaka as Arsenal continue top-four push

Martin Ødegaard possesses all the qualities to become Arsenal’s next captain and he proved it once again at Villa Park.

Ødegaard’s Norway manager Stale Solbakken recently revealed that he believes the former Real Madrid midfielder will eventually inherit the armband from Alexandre Lacazette.

It’s expected that Lacazette will leave the Gunners when his contract expires in the summer, with talks planned between the club and his representatives when the season ends.

Arsenal confirm why Gabriel Martinelli and Aaron Ramsdale left out of squad vs Villa

But the Gunners can take some solace in the fact that they have a ready-made leader ready to take over the captain’s armband in due course.

During the first half, Ødegaard was seen being vocal on several occasions. In one instance he bellowed across the instructions ‘stay there!’ to Emile Smith Rowe when Villa won a throw-in in the first half and the England international was close to being dragged out of position.

Those small examples of leadership and marshalling his teammates shows why Ødegaard is the perfect player to orchestrate the Gunners in midfield and as captain.

The season just gets better and better for Bukayo Saka. Arsenal and England’s Starboy continues to live up to his nickname by producing the goods on the pitch.

Saka’s goal against Villa was evidence of why Arsenal’s top priority this summer is to tie the youngster down to a new long-term contract.

He has scored five goals in his last five Premier League away games and it also marked Arsenal's 2000th goal in the league.

Statisticians will certainly appreciate those numbers but it is what Saka represents, as an icon and role model for both club and country, which make him such a force to be reckoned with.

Alexa