Adams Urges Arteta: Strip Odegaard for Rice as Captain

Arsenal Mikel Arteta urged to make brutal Martin Odegaard Arsenal captaincy call as replacement 'named' Martin Odegaard was handed the Arsenal captaincy ahead of the 2022/23 season and has led the Gunners close to Premier League glory in each of the past three campaigns footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Arsenal By Sam Truelove Content Editor Daniel Orme Trends Writer 12:00, 14 AUG 2025 Bookmark Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (Image: Getty Images) Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Arsenal newsletter so you don't miss the latest Gunners news, straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice 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." This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here 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. KICK OFF - Arsenal F.C. pre-season guide 2025/26 The countdown is on to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign - and our pre-season guide is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead. As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory - or simply survival in the toughest league in the world! Also full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. Get your copy NOW Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Martin Odegaard Mikel Arteta Declan Rice

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard (Image: Getty Images)

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."

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.