Tony Adams has said that Arsenal “won’t win the league” if Mikel Arteta keeps Martin Odegaard as captain this season.
The Gunners are preparing for their first game of the season which will be a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday to face a Man United side, who are expected to be much improved under Ruben Amorim.
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Arsenal finished second in the past three seasons, and this year has to warrant silverware as far as Arteta is concerned, especially considering that the Gunners added the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi to their team.
Ahead of the season starting, there is a lot of optimism around the Emirates, but every decision Arteta makes will need to be spot on if they are to beat Liverpool and Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Adams says Rice should be Arsenal captain
Last season, Martin Odegaard has his worst season in an Arsenal shirt. He played more of a repressed role rather than his creative flair that we know and love. Whereas Declan Rice became a real creative outlet in midfield, and less of a holding midfielder.
Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams believes that Rice would be a much better fit as Arsenal captain than Odegaard, who is Arteta’s current choice for the role. He told the Irish Independent: “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.”
🗣️ “You’re not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.”
🗣️ “He’s got a really big call to make and he hasn’t done it.”
🗣️ “Did you say Rice is better than Arteta – he’s a winner – as in Arteta’s not a winner?”
Tony Adams says it’s time for Mikel Arteta to step up at… pic.twitter.com/iUE0nb0Teh
— Irish Independent Sport (@IndoSport) August 13, 2025
Adams certainly didn’t hold back in his criticism of Arteta’s decision, he even went as far as saying that the captaincy could be the difference between winning the league, and missing out.
He added: “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. You’re not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.”
Click here to see Arsenal’s first team squad ahead of the new Premier League season.