Arsenal are looking to buck the trend of finishing second in the Premier League this season and former captain Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to make ‘a really big call’ regarding Martin Odegaard and his comments have caused quite a stir.
Playing the role of bridesmaid won’t have pleased many of the Emirates Stadium faithful, who last tasted Premier League glory in the 2003/04 season – a 38-game period the north Londoners made memorable for going unbeaten in the league.
And Adams, who led the Gunners to four league titles during his 658-game career in north London, has recently implored Arteta to make an all-crucial change for the upcoming season – one that he believes could increase their chances at securing glory.
Adams Makes Big Odegaard Claim Ahead of 25/26
Tony Adams
Following the departures of Alexander Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Odegaard – widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in world football – was given the armband as a show of Arteta’s trust. The risk is yet to pay off with the Norwegian midfielder yet to bring any silverware to the club.
Adams is under the assumption, however, that midfielder Declan Rice should take over such responsibilities heading into the new season. “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 type of captain and what it might do is free Martin Odegaard up to play with a bit more. But, every now and again, as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club, and you think can actually take you to the next level.”
declan rice arsenal midfielder
When asked if he thinks Rice reflects Arteta, the former centre-back said: “I think he’s better than Arteta. I think he’s a winner. I think he’s an Arsenal leader, in the dressing room, around the training camp. He’s got standards, he’s got principles.”
“I'm just saying he's got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner,' he added. '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.”
Watch Tony Adam's full assessment below:
Supporters are, expectedly, divided in opinion over whether Adams’ remarks ring true. In defence of Odegaard, one said: “This guy is just looking for sensational news to stay relevant and a bit of controversies to hit the headlines. He fell off big time.”
“Shame on you, Tony Adams. Even if you must share such sentiments, you have access to Arteta and his backroom staff, but instead you go on a show to rubbish the manager and captain of a club you claim to love. We know what your managerial career was like by the way.”
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard vs Bournemouth
“Every single player within Arsenal Football Club sees Martin Odegaard as the clear captain and leader of this Arsenal team. It’s okay if you don’t think the same - but the players love him," another said, backing Odegaard's role. However, not everybody shares the same opinion.
“Very, very true. All of it,” a fourth wrote as another kept it short and simple in his assessment of the ex-skipper’s comments: “Spot on.” A final fan doesn’t doubt Odegaard’s ability as captain; but insisted that Rice would be the much better option for Arteta.
“Adams is speaking sense, Odegaard is a fantastic talent, but he is not going to play every 90 minutes as Rice probably will, Rice will play if his leg was hanging off. Now the only negative with Tony’s assessment is that the game has changed some so we will have to see. I like both as captain but does Rice as captain give us stronger effort? Probably yes!”