Martin Odegaard wears the captain’s armband at Arsenal but Gabriel Martinelli has once again identified Granit Xhaka as the man who leads them on the pitch.
It is the Swiss international who gathers the players after every goal – and there have been many this season – to deliver a rapid team talk.
Arsenal are top of the table after eight wins from nine games and look on course to coast through their Europa League group.
Xhaka has had a phenomenal season so far, making our list of 10 most improved players in the Premier League.
He is quite clearly boss Mikel Arteta’s voice on the pitch, issuing tactical instructions as well as encouragement.
Martinelli – who has been a revalation this season – said: last week: “Xhaka is an amazing lad. You see how much he dedicates himself to the team, how much he cares about the match and the players as well, he is definitely one of our leaders.
“Right after our first goal against Tottenham, he calls everybody into a huddle, asking us to stay calm and saying we will score more goals.
“That’s when you see how important he is to all players. For young players like me and Bukayo, it’s very important to have a team-mate like him.”
And now Martinelli has praised Xhaka again, telling The Athletic: “Granit always says very positive things: to keep going, to keep the ball and try to attack in behind. These kinds of things. He’s the guy who always leads us on the pitch.”
Odegaard is clearly a quieter kind of leader. When asked on Wednesday how being captain had changed him, he said: “I haven’t thought too much about it to be honest.
“I try to do the same things, help the team as much as possible. I enjoy the responsibility and just try to do the best for the team always and hopefully that’s good.”
The Norwegian did accept that he is probably in the best form of his career, saying: “Yes I think so. I think I’ve developed a lot in the last few years.
“I’ve always been good on the ball but I feel like I’m developing a different side of my game now as well, without the ball.
“How to improve and affect the game in different ways, so yeah I feel like I’m doing well and of course when the team is doing well it makes things easier for me as well.
“I’m really happy to be part of this team and happy with where we are at the moment, but we want more of course.”