Martin Odegaard shrugs off Tony Adams' call to strip him of Arsenal captaincy

Martin Odegaard dismissed criticism from Arsenal legend Tony Adams over his suitability as club captain, saying outside opinions do not unsettle him as he prepares to lead the team on the field.

The Norway midfielder, who has been Arsenal captain since 2022, told reporters on international duty, "I don't care that much, to be honest. Everyone can have their opinion and say what they want, and I'm alright with that. I can't care about what everyone says." Odegaard added that he has focused on not letting praise or criticism affect his career.

Adams, who captained Arsenal during the club's successful era in the 1980s and 1990s, told an Irish Independent Sport event last month that he believed Declan Rice would be a more appropriate on-field leader and that a change might allow Odegaard to play with greater freedom. "Declan is my kind of captain and what it might do is free up Martin Odegaard to play with more freedom," Adams said. "You've got someone in there that is going to play every game and lay the foundations of a title-winning team. Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can't. Come on Arteta, make him captain."

Manager Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal playing squad, however, have moved to reaffirm Odegaard's position. The club held a players' vote on the captaincy before the season and, according to Arteta, Odegaard won "by a mile," a result the manager described as a clear sign of the dressing room's view on leadership. "My opinion is clear and it's not just my opinion, it's all the staff and especially the players," Arteta said after the vote.

Odegaard said the vote was a welcome confirmation even though final authority rests with the manager. "We voted for it. Ultimately, it was [Arteta's] choice anyway. But it was a nice confirmation for me," he said.

Since being handed the armband following the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Odegaard has remained a central figure for Arsenal. Over the past three Premier League seasons he has contributed 26 goals and 26 assists, figures the club points to when citing his influence on and off the pitch.

Arsenal's campaign has started with two wins from three league matches. The club returns to Premier League action on Saturday when it hosts Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

The debate over on-field leadership at top clubs is common as managers weigh tactical requirements, dressing-room influence and consistency of selection. At Arsenal, the manager and squad have publicly endorsed Odegaard's captaincy, while Adams' comments reflect a contrasting view from a former player with a different era and perspective on the role.

For now, both Arteta and Odegaard have signalled continuity. The captain's immediate focus remains on preparation and performance for Arsenal's upcoming fixtures rather than public discussion about leadership alternatives.