Mikel Arteta won't want to hear Arsenal criticism after failing to make change - 'Sorry'

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has criticised Mikel Arteta's choice to retain Martin Odegaard as club captain for the 2025/26 season. The Gunners icon feels this campaign represents Arteta's moment to demonstrate his credentials as a trophy-winning boss, and he believes Declan Rice would be the armband-wearer to deliver silverware.

Arsenal have finished the last three campaigns as Premier League runners-up under Odegaard's captaincy. The north London outfit have pushed some exceptional Liverpool and Manchester City teams close during that period but fallen short each time. Arteta's sole piece of silverware remains the FA Cup triumph secured during his debut season at the helm back in 2020. Adams has lambasted the Spanish tactician for his reluctance to shake up the team's leadership structure, proposing that Rice, who arrived at the club in 2023, possesses greater qualities to elevate the side to the next level.

"[Arteta's] got the opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner," said Adams during a live recording of the Indo Sport podcast (via football.london), having suggested Rice demonstrates more characteristics of a serial champion than his manager.

The England international transferred from West Ham two years ago and has swiftly established himself as a firm favourite, though Arteta might not welcome the criticism of his captaincy decision. Adams continued: "To win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [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 making Odegaard captain is a reflection of Arteta. 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.' Because you're not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.

"I'm sorry. It's gonna be a rotation job, and you're going to get the same mentality of, 'Sometimes him and that [player] will come out and [bored groaning noises]. You've got someone in there who's gonna play every game all season, that's gonna encourage people to come in and do this and do that and lay the foundations of a title-winning team. Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can't. Come on, Arteta, make him captain."

Rice, 26, has demonstrated himself as the more reliable option throughout his career and featured in 103 matches for Arsenal during his opening two campaigns. Odegaard, meanwhile, has suffered through injury spells and was sidelined for two months during a pivotal autumn last season.

Arteta clearly recognises leadership in Rice, having given him the captain's armband on the final day of last season, leading the team to a 2-1 victory at Southampton. He was also appointed captain at former club West Ham at just 20 years old and guided the club to their first European trophy in nearly 60 years before moving to Arsenal.

Adams, who clinched four league titles and three FA Cups during his 19-year career with the Gunners, took a moment to reflect when asked if he generally admired Arteta. He won the old First Division title twice under George Graham before adding another two league crowns to his tally with Arsene Wenger in charge.

The competition at the top of England's Premier League may not have been as intense then as it is now. Liverpool and Manchester United would regularly challenge the Gunners for the top honours in Adams' time, but Chelsea and Manchester City have since become regular contenders.

There's no reason why both Odegaard and Rice can't play a significant role in Arsenal's efforts to end a 22-year Premier League title drought. However, Adams believes that if the club is to change its fortunes and become genuine title contenders, it all begins with who wears the captain's armband.