‘By a mile’ – Arteta backs Odegaard following Tony Adams’ claims that they ‘won’t win the league with him as captain’ | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has defended Martin Odegaard following criticism from former Gunners skipper Tony Adams.

Adams, who spent his whole career at Arsenal from the years 1983 to 2002, questioned Odegaard’s leadership credentials and called for him to be stripped of the captaincy this season.

“He’s got a really big call to make this year and for me he hasn’t done it,” Adams said. “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.

“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.”

But in response to the claims, Arteta says it is clear that Odegaard is the right man to lead the side.

“My opinion is clear, and it is the same as all the staff and the players,” he said.

“I asked them to vote [for] the captain yesterday and by a mile, by a mile, they all choose the same person, Martin Odegaard. Which is the most clear sign you can have of how the squad feel we can improve.”