Who are the five players in Arsenal leadership group as squad votes on who should be captain

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Mikel Arteta boasts so many ‘leaders’ at Arsenal that his squad votes on who should wear the armband. Following an impressive summer spreading spree, Arteta has built the strongest squad of his reign.

Having finished as runners-up in each of the past three Premier League campaigns, this is one of the Gunners’ best chances to become league champions since the ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04, and certainly during Arteta’s reign.

Amid the new arrivals as part of a £250million spending drive, the Gunners’ strength is underpinned by five players who the rest look to for leadership and inspiration - Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka , Declan Rice , Gabriel and Mikel Merino.

Only one can be the club’s official captain, and that honour goes to Odegaard following a vote by Gunners players and staff. Speaking ahead of the new season, Arteta revealed that Odegaard was the overwhelming choice by his peers, which speaks volumes about the Norwegian’s influence around the club.

Arteta said: “By a mile, by a big, big 100 marks, everybody chose the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have, how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win. So, I mean, there's no question about that.

“Martin doesn't need to open his mouth and everybody says ‘he’s my captain, I want him to represent, I trust him 100 per cent, he’s the guy I want to have next to me.”

Arsenal are having to cope without their main leader, who is recovering from a knee injury that could keep him out until after the next international break, plus a number of other key players ahead of Sunday's home clash with Crystal Palace .

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Despite being just 24, Saka, who captained the side at Fulham last weekend, now boasts a wealth of experience with both club and country and has been earmarked as a future captain of both. Rice is another who leads by example and would be a shoo-in as captain at most other clubs.

Gabriel Magalhaes, a doubt to face Palace, is the leader of the defence and has already donned the armband on several occasions, while Merino is a highly respected figure, despite not being assured of a starting spot.

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Beyond the main leadership group, Arteta can also turn to experienced stars like William Saliba, Martin Zubimendi, Leandro Trossard , Kai Havertz, David Raya , Ben White , Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori.

Arsenal have had a habit of cracking under pressure down the final straight. But if the Gunners do fall short again, it shouldn’t be because of a lack of experience or nous.