Mikel Arteta dismisses calls for Martin Odegaard to be stripped of the Arsenal captaincy, citing the Norway midfielder’s leadership qualities and the players’ vote in his favor.
Mikel Arteta has come out in strong defense of Martin Odegaard’s captaincy, dismissing calls for the Norway midfielder to be replaced by Declan Rice.
Former Arsenal skipper Tony Adams recently suggested that Rice would be a better fit for the role, citing his ability to play every game and lead the team to success. However, Arteta disagrees, believing that Odegaard is the right man to lead Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge.
Arteta’s confidence in Odegaard stems from the players’ vote, which overwhelmingly favored the Norway midfielder to retain the captaincy. “I asked them to vote for the captain, and I got the results yesterday,” Arteta said. “By a mile, by a big, big (margin), by 100 miles, everybody chose the same person, Martin Odegaard.”
The debate surrounding Odegaard’s captaincy has been fueled by Arsenal’s inability to win the Premier League title, despite finishing as runners-up for the last three seasons. Some have questioned the team’s mental strength, with Odegaard coming under fire for his leadership. However, Arteta believes that Odegaard is the right person to lead the team, and the players’ vote has reinforced his opinion.
