Arsenal Captain Odegaard Dismisses Tony Adams' Criticism

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has dismissed criticism from club legend Tony Adams, who suggested that Odegaard should be replaced by England international Declan Rice as captain for a better chance at winning titles. Odegaard, who has captained Arsenal since 2022 and Norway since 2021, emphasized that he does not care about the opinions and remains focused on his role, highlighting that the Arsenal squad voted overwhelmingly for him to retain the captaincy. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Odegaard won the captaincy vote by a large margin, underscoring the trust placed in him by teammates and staff. Despite a recent shoulder injury that limited his early season appearances, Odegaard has stated he is now fully recovered and ready to lead both club and country. Adams argued that Rice, as a guaranteed starter, would better reflect the club and lay the foundation for a title-winning team, but Odegaard's consistent leadership and experience since joining Arsenal in 2021 have maintained his position. Odegaard remains focused on his responsibilities, unaffected by the public debate over his captaincy.