Arsenal -Legend Tony Adams has urged Mikel Arteta to strip Martin Odegaard of the club's captain if they want to win the Premier League.
Arsenal has played bridesmaid in the title race in the last three seasons and is missing twice against Manchester City, and the most recently Liverpool.
Odegaard was made captain for the 2022-23 season, after the departure of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, he still has to bring silverware to the emirates.
Adams, who led famous Arsenal to four league titles during his own glittering career, has identified the man who, according to him, will ride the North London side over the line in the title race.
The former captain of Gunners insisted on replacing Arteta to Odegaard with England International Declan Rice.
“He has a very big call to make this year and he didn't do it for me,” said Adams. “The call is to make Declan Rice the captain. I think Declan is my kind of captain, and it can free Odegaard to play with a little more freedom.
“Every now and then as a manager, you have to post someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to a higher level.” When asked if he thinks Rice is reflecting Arteta, Adams replied: “I think he is better than Arteta.”
Adams was then asked if Rice is a winner and whether Arteta is not. The former defender answered diplomatically.
“I just say that this year he has a chance to actually become a winner,” he added. 'To win competition titles, you need one [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to [Sir Alex] Ferguson. You must set a good example, you must be a winner, you must do your company. And that reflects in your captain.
“And I see Declan Rice as a captain, but I say to Arteta:” Come on, get up now. It is your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager, because you are not going to win the competition with Odegaard as a captain. “
Adams believes that Rice's sustainability and leadership is exactly what Arsenal needs to finally get the title after he got close to the last two seasons.
“You have someone in their who will play every game all season, that will encourage people to come in and lay the foundation of a title -winning team,” he went on.
'Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard is not possible. Come on Arteta, make him captain. '