Our preseason commitments officially kick off today, with the senior team playing away to RC Lens.
The usual turnover of players has left us in need of a captain after parting ways with Arteta. The club has been less than forthcoming with any confirmation, but the obvious guess has to be Mertesacker. This comes as no surprise since he was, more or less, de-facto captain last season.
I for one, have always been a fan of the big guy, but I feel that his captaincy might have come 2-3 years too late.
We only have to look at our last two skippers. Vermaelen had it for 2 years but only started 7 games in his 2nd year ; while Arteta only managed 6 starts in 26 appearances over his 2-year captaincy.
Allow me to make the case for a few other candidates.
Koscielny (31) 238 apps over 6 seasons. Natural leader, eloquent, and will push up when the midfield switches off.
His hamstrings aint getting any better and he's prone to the occasional brain freeze.
Cazorla (32) 169 apps over 4 seasons. He was Mr. Reliable prior to his latest injury, and could still hold down a place in the new-look midfield. A cool head who will rarely put a foot wrong, and has led a few squads out.
Ramsey (25) 203 apps in the 5 seasons since he was loaned out. Nailed on starter who can play a number of positions. A decent leader when entrusted with the role.
Giroud (30) 187 apps over 4 seasons. Guaranteed starter who will also frequently help out at the back.
Needs to keep his personal stuff out of the headlines though.
Nacho (30) 131 apps over 4 seasons. Nailed-on starter, quietly efficient and always gives out instructions on the pitch. He's also been known to readily abandon his post to put fires out elsewhere.
Sanchez (28) 93 apps in 2 seasons. Guaranteed starter who can lead from the front. Cracking work-rate and will always help out at the back.
Communication could be an issue, but he's already doing interviews in English.
Cech (34) 42 apps in his first season. A cool head who's seen it all. Obviously a guaranteed starter when fit.
Honourable mention for Gibbs (27) as deputy. 190 apps over 8 seasons. Lost his spot in recent years but still earned 28 apps last season. A loyal club man who has kept his understandable frustrations to himself.
Aye, Aye Cap'n !
posted on 22/7/16
To me the criteria for choosing a captain should not merely be based on how many appearances a player has made but:
1) The amount of knowledge and understanding of the game a player has.
2) A player's fortitude to lead by example when the going gets tough.
3) To possess adequate communication skills that tactfully decimate the manager's wishes.
posted on 22/7/16
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 14 minutes ago
Jack WIlshere (24) - Arsenal through and through, and won't get injured ever again.
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He'd have to wash his mouth out with soap first.
The new rules would have him sent off before he ever kicked a ball.
posted on 22/7/16
Makes sense to give it to Per now so we can give it to Xhaka in a year when we've all fallen in love with him and he's established.
posted on 22/7/16
I kinda hate this "Discuss" instruction... I mean what else were we going to do? Stare at the screen?
Anyway...
If for any reason the armband wasn't Mertersacker's, I'd probably go with Koscielny, Cech or Cazorla... probably in that order.
I can't see Giroud or Walcott as captain nor Gibbs as deputy. Ramsey or Wilshere seems inevitable at some point but not now. Welbeck might make a decent deputy but again, in years to come (if he's still around).
posted on 22/7/16
comment by Song's gone but Santi coming to town makes it feel like Christmas every day (U12977)
posted 3 minutes ago
I kinda hate this "Discuss" instruction... I mean what else were we going to do? Stare at the screen?
Anyway...
If for any reason the armband wasn't Mertersacker's, I'd probably go with Koscielny, Cech or Cazorla... probably in that order.
I can't see Giroud or Walcott as captain nor Gibbs as deputy. Ramsey or Wilshere seems inevitable at some point but not now. Welbeck might make a decent deputy but again, in years to come (if he's still around).
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Amended.
posted on 22/7/16
Koscielny or mert
posted on 22/7/16
comment by Gillespie Road (U18361)
posted 37 minutes ago
comment by Song's gone but Santi coming to town makes it feel like Christmas every day (U12977)
posted 3 minutes ago
I kinda hate this "Discuss" instruction... I mean what else were we going to do? Stare at the screen?
Anyway...
If for any reason the armband wasn't Mertersacker's, I'd probably go with Koscielny, Cech or Cazorla... probably in that order.
I can't see Giroud or Walcott as captain nor Gibbs as deputy. Ramsey or Wilshere seems inevitable at some point but not now. Welbeck might make a decent deputy but again, in years to come (if he's still around).
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Amended.
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You can tell it's that time of the day... I thought you'd amended something in my post so was looking through it to see what you amended!
Time to go home!
Didn't mean for you to change it; it's just a little bugbear of mine. But cheers though.
posted on 22/7/16
Needs to be someone whos going to be around a few years to keep some consistancy. I think Ramsey is a good shout because when he was given the Wales captaincy he really rose to the responsibility. After it was taken away from him and his horrendous leg break it knocked him back a bit. After his performances at the Euros he way well be ready to shoulder some more responsibility. And there is always that stat that we dont lose 3/4 of our games when he is playing and it goes down to 1/3 or something when he isnt playing. Definitely adds something whether people like him or not.
posted on 22/7/16
comment by thegoonertic (U13932)
posted 2 hours, 26 minutes ago
3) To possess adequate communication skills that tactfully decimate the manager's wishes.
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decimate . Is that autocorrect or are you a numpty.
posted on 22/7/16
Does the captain need to be a 'leader'? Or to put it another way, does a 'leader' need to be captain?