Declan Rice Arsenal Captaincy: Arsenal’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain has led to calls for Mikel Arteta to strip Martin Odegaard of the captaincy.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to reconsider his captaincy selection, with pundit Mark Lawrenson suggesting that Martin Odegaard be relieved of his leadership responsibilities in favour of Declan Rice. Lawrenson believes that Odegaard’s recent struggles with form warrant a change, and he has named Declan Rice as the ideal replacement.
Since taking over the captaincy three years ago, Odegaard has been a key figure in Arsenal’s resurgence under Arteta. His leadership, both on and off the pitch, has been praised, and he has embodied the qualities Arteta demands from his players. However, the Norwegian midfielder has endured a difficult season, largely due to an ankle injury that required surgery in September. Since returning to fitness, he has struggled to regain his best form, with his performance in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg defeat against Paris Saint-Germain drawing criticism.
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Lawrenson, a former Liverpool defender, believes that stripping Odegaard of the captaincy could help him refocus on his performances. He argues that Rice, who previously captained West Ham United, would be a natural fit for the role and would not be affected by the added responsibility.
“The captain Martin Odegaard, so he can get back to focusing on his performances,” Lawrenson told Paddy Power. “We all know that he’s a good player, but he’s just had a six out of ten season. If you gave Declan Rice the armband instead, you imagine that it wouldn’t affect his performances, especially considering he was captain at West Ham. I’d give it to Rice so Odegaard can focus on improving his performances.”
Despite their 1-0 defeat to PSG, Arsenal remains optimistic about overturning the deficit in the second leg. Midfielder Mikel Merino expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back, stating, “We know we have a really good team, a powerful team, and we are really confident that we’re going to win the second prepares for the crucial return fixture, the debate over Odegaard’s captaincy continues. Whether Arteta will heed Lawrenson’s advice remains to be seen, but the discussion highlights the growing influence of Rice within the squad.
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