Arteta Backs Odegaard Amid Calls to Hand Arsenal Captaincy to Declan Rice

Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions that Martin Ødegaard should be stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, insisting there is “no question” the Norway international is the right man to lead the club’s Premier League title push.

Former Gunners skipper Tony Adams recently urged Arteta to hand the armband to England midfielder Declan Rice, claiming he is better suited to “take Arsenal to the next level.”

However, Arteta revealed that Arsenal’s players had overwhelmingly voted for Ødegaard to retain the role.

“My opinion is clear, and it’s not just mine — it’s all the staff and especially the players,” Arteta said on Friday. “I asked them to vote for the captain, and I got the results yesterday. By a mile, by 100 miles, everybody chose Martin Ødegaard. That’s the clearest sign you can have.”

Ødegaard has captained Arsenal since 2022 and played a pivotal role in consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League. But the Gunners’ inability to maintain their title challenge has sparked debate over their leadership and mental strength.

Adams, speaking to the Irish Independent, argued that Rice should lead the team:

“You’ve got someone who’s going to play every game, encourage others, and lay the foundations of a title-winning team. Declan Rice can do that. Ødegaard can’t. Come on, Arteta, make him captain.”

Arteta rejected that assessment, stressing that leadership is more than appearances from the touchline.

“What matters most is how the players feel about who should lead them, who is going to push them, support them, and drive them to win matches,” he said.

Arsenal begin their league campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday before hosting newly-promoted Leeds. A testing run against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, and Newcastle will follow.

Arteta confirmed that summer signings Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi are fit to play at Old Trafford.

“Yes, especially with the consistency we’ve shown in the last three years, the margins are very small,” he said. “We know the competition has raised the level of recruitment, and we’ve had another year together.”