Mikel Arteta has hit back at Tony Adams after the former Arsenal skipper claimed Martin Odegaard should be removed as captain, insisting there is ‘no question’ the Norwegian deserves to wear the armband.
Adams, speaking at an event in Dublin, demanded the Gunners boss make the change ahead of the new season, arguing Declan Rice was the man for the job.
‘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,’ argued Arsenal legend Adams.
‘Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can’t. Come on Arteta, make him captain. I think he is better than Arteta. I think he’s a winner. As a man, he is a proper player.’
Arteta strongly disagreed with that assessment, confirming Odegaard has the backing of everyone at the club.
He said: ‘My opinion is clear and it’s not just my opinion. It’s all the staff and especially the players.
Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams argued this week that Martin Odegaard should be axed as Gunners skipper
It was an idea which Mikel Arteta, who handed the Norwegian the captaincy, strongly disagreed with
Arteta revealed that the Arsenal squad vote ‘by 100 miles’ in favour of Odegaard as skipper
‘I asked them to vote for the captain and I got the results yesterday. By a mile, by 100 miles, everybody chose the same person, Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have.
‘It’s how they feel about who has to be their captain, to defend, to improve, and win the matches that we want to win, so I think there is no question about that.’
Asked to summarise Odegaard’s leadership skills, Arteta said: ‘What matters the most is how these guys feel about who needs to lead them, how they feel comfortable, who is going to push them, who is going to give them support.’
Arteta confirmed summer signing Viktor Gyokeres will be fit to play in the Gunners’ Premier League opener at Manchester United tomorrow, and is optimistic Leandro Trossard will also be available.
And while Arteta joked ‘too many’ teams have a legitimate shot at winning the title, he remains more determined than ever to claim the silverware that has so far eluded him.
He added: ‘You keep digging, digging, and
you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there.
‘Across three seasons, we’ve had more points than any other team in this league, which is incredible.
‘You have the consistency, but now we have to do it
in a season, to end with more points than any other team.
‘That’s the objective.’
