Labour leader Keir Starmer has praised one transfer decision Mikel Arteta has made during his time at Arsenal.
The potential future prime minister of Great Britain is no stranger to his love for Arsenal, with Starmer often photographed at the Emirates Stadium as well as in the travelling away end for some fixtures.
And this season has been one to celebrate for the Labour leader, with Arsenal top of the Premier League with three games to go and Arteta leading the Gunners to a potential first title in over 20 years.
And Starmer has praised one transfer decision the Basque coach has made in his four years as manager of Arsenal.
Starmer in awe of ‘technically gifted’ Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard
Speaking to the Telegraph, Starmer revealed his love for Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, with the Labour leader praising Arteta’s decision to sign the midfielder as well as make the playmaker captain.
And 25-years-old, Odegaard has worn the armband with pride and respect despite his young age, and many Arsenal fans will agree that the Norwegian international has been one of the club’s best signings in recent years.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal star Martin Odegaard from girlfriend to £65k car
Starmer said: “He has built a real team there. Things like making Odegaard captain. I saw Odegaard when he first played for us, he was on loan from Real Madrid. And I thought ‘there’s a really technically gifted player’.
“But by making him captain he has given him a responsibility and a status that we can see reflected through the player. Odegaard is a leader on the pitch now.
“If everything is going through Odegaard, if he is playing well, he’s lifting the other players. And at the end of every game, Odegaard will go round the whole pitch, applauding the fans. That’s real leadership.”
Arteta could now have appointed a better captain than Odegaard
Since the departure of Patrick Vieira, Arsenal have had a torrid history of club captain’s from William Gallas to Granit Xhaka pre-Covid, yet Arteta nailed it with the appointment of Odegaard in 2022.
The 25-year-old is a player mature beyond his years and knows what it means to wear the armband and the weight it carries for the fans, who have since grown to love Odegaard more than most stars in recent years.
And if Odegaard was to lift the Premier League title this season, every Arsenal fan will be proud of the sight, with the midfielder a reflection of the club’s journey from fallen giant to one of the best in the world again.