Mikel Arteta: Martin Odegaard deserves to be Arsenal captain ‘by a mile’

Mikel Arteta insists there is “no question” Martin Odegaard still deserves to captain Arsenal after former skipper Tony Adams called for the Norwegian to be stripped of the armband.

Adams, speaking at an Irish Independent Sport event in Dublin, demanded the Gunners boss make the change ahead of the new campaign, arguing “proper player” Declan Rice was the man for the job.

Arteta vehemently disagreed with that assessment, confirming Odegaard has the backing of everyone at the club.

“My opinion is clear,” said Arteta, “and it’s not just my opinion. It’s all the staff and especially the players.

“I asked them to vote (for) the captain and I got the results yesterday. By a mile, by a big, big, by 100 miles, everybody chose the same person, Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have.

“It’s how they feel about who has to be their captain, to defend, to improve, and win the matches that we want to win, so I think there is no question about that.”

Adams, quoted in the Irish Independent, said: “Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club, that you think can actually take you to the next level.

“You’ve got someone in there who’s going to play every game all season, that’s going to encourage people to come in and lay the foundations of a title-winning team.

“Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can’t. Come on Arteta, make him captain. I think he is better than Arteta. I think he’s a winner. As a man, he is a proper player.”

Arteta said he could talk about leadership “for hours”, but asked to summarise Odegaard’s qualifications, replied: “What matters the most is how these guys feel about who needs to lead them, how they feel comfortable, who is going