Martin Odegaard responds to Tony Adams' demands over Declan Rice Arsenal captaincy switch

Martin Odegaard has robustly defended his captaincy at Arsenal following sharp criticism from Tony Adams. The club legend targeted Odegaard, 26, by insisting that the Gunners won't claim the Premier League crown whilst he remains skipper.

The former Arsenal captain called on Mikel Arteta to hand the armband to teammate Declan Rice, arguing that such a switch would give Odegaard greater attacking licence. However, Adams won't see his wish fulfilled after the squad emphatically backed the Norwegian to continue as captain for the 2025-26 campaign.

Odegaard has now hit back at Adams in an interview before Sunday's season opener away to Manchester United. When quizzed about his leadership approach, the midfielder told Sky Sports: "It's a lot to be fair. It's a lot of small things. It's hard to describe it, it's more like a constant role you do.

"There's always these small things you have to do. In general it's just how I see it is to get the best out of the team and how to give the team the right mindset. Help the players around you, get the best mindset in everyone.

"I think before the game just on the pitch I do a little one (team talk) and inside the dressing room we have different people talking. It's not just me there's a lot of people sharing the responsibility and the manager does a lot as well. It's a shared thing. It's not just me all the time."

Adams admitted during an event for Irish Independent that Odegaard wasn't his 'kind' of captain. "The call is to make Declan Rice the captain," the ex-Gunners defender began in a plea to Arteta.

"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.

"He (Arteta) has got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner. 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."

Arteta, though, believes that there's 'no question' that Odegaard should be captain. "Well my opinion is clear and it's not just my opinion, it's all the staff and especially the players." the Gunners boss explained.

"I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday. 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."