Martin Odegaard responds after Arsenal icon urges Declan Rice to be made new captain

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·08 de setembro de 2025

Martin Odegaard responds after Arsenal icon urges Declan Rice to be made new captain

Gunners legend Tony Adams believes Mikel Arteta should still change his skipper despite overwhelming player vote this summer

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Martin Odegaard insists he is unfazed by Arsenal legend Tony Adams calling for him to be stripped of the captain’s armband.

Adams, who led Arsenal to four top-flight titles during his own time as captain in north London, said at an event last month that Declan Rice should take the role instead.

“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,” Adams said at an event organised by the Irish Independent newspaper. “Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can’t. Come on [Mikel] Arteta, make him captain.”

Odegaard was quizzed about Adams’ comments while away on international duty with Norway, and he stressed that he is not affected.

“I don’t care that much,” he said. “Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and say what they want. I live with that.

“You can’t care what everyone says, there will be a lot of positive and negative things that can affect me. It’s important to just block it out. I’ve done it my whole career.”

Odegaard was backed by Arteta last month in the wake of Adams’ comments, with the Arsenal boss revealing that the squad voted to keep the Norwegian as captain for this season.

“I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday,” said Arteta. “And by a mile, by a big, big 100 miles, everybody choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, and which is the most clear sign that you can have.

“It’s how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win. So I think there’s no question about that.”

Odegaard confirmed the vote took place and admitted it was nice to have the support of his team-mates.

“It’s true that we voted on it,” he said, ahead of Norway’s latest World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday.

“Ultimately, it was his (Arteta’s) choice anyway. It’s nice confirmation to get that.”