Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to strip Martin Odegaard of the Arsenal captaincy if he wants to deliver the Premier League title.
The Norwegian midfielder was handed the armband before the 2022/23 season. He became the first player to captain the side permanently since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was relieved of his duties.
Odegaard’s leadership has overseen a successful period for Arsenal, with the club challenging for the Premier League crown across the last three campaigns. However, former skipper Adams believes it’s time for Arteta to pass the captaincy to another player – and considers Declan Rice the ideal choice, reports the Mirror.
He said: “He’s got a really big call to make this year and for me he hasn’t done it. The call is to make Declan Rice the captain. I think Declan is my kind of captain, and it might free Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom.
“Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to the next level.”
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Should Arteta decide to give Rice the armband, Adams believes it could help Arsenal finally claim their first Premier League triumph in two decades. Adams added: “I’m just saying he’s got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner.
“To win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [Sir Alex] Ferguson. You have to lead by example, you have to be a winner, you have to go about your business. And that reflects in your captain.
“And I’m seeing Declan Rice as a captain but I’m saying to Arteta: ‘Come on, step up now. It’s your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager, because you’re not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.’
“You’ve got someone in there who’s going to play every game all season, that’s going to encourage people to come in and lay the foundations of a title-winning team. Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can’t. Come on Arteta, make him captain.”
Despite Arteta’s loyalty to Odegaard, the Spanish manager hasn’t shied away from making alterations elsewhere in his squad. The Gunners have splashed out nearly £200million this summer – Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke being among the marquee signings.
Arsenal kick off their latest Premier League campaign on Sunday when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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