"Give Rice the Armband" – Lawrenson Sparks Debate Over Arsenal Captaincy Amid Champions League Woes

In an interview with Paddy Power, as reported by Mirror, Lawrenson rated Ødegaard’s season as a mere "six out of ten," suggesting that the pressures of captaincy may be weighing him down.

“The captain’s armband should be taken away from Martin Ødegaard, so he can get back to focusing on his performances," Lawrenson said.
"We all know that he’s a good player, but he’s just had an average season.
If you gave Declan Rice the armband instead, it would not affect his performances—he led West Ham with class.”

💬 Opinion: Is Ødegaard’s Leadership Under the Microscope or Just Misunderstood?

While Lawrenson’s view may resonate with fans frustrated by Arsenal’s recent form, it also raises a bigger question: What does captaincy really mean at Arsenal today?

Martin Ødegaard, since joining from Real Madrid, has been a model professional and a creative spark under Mikel Arteta. While this season may have seen some dips in form, stripping the armband mid-campaign could risk more disruption than motivation.

Yes, Declan Rice is a natural leader—vocal, tireless, and experienced with the armband at West Ham—but is leadership always about shouting louder? Or is it also about the quiet consistency Ødegaard has shown for most of his time in North London?

Instead of a captaincy switch, perhaps what Arsenal needs is collective accountability, especially as they navigate one of the most crucial stages of their season.

🔍 The Bigger Picture

With a second-leg showdown against PSG and a tight Premier League title race, Arteta’s men must regroup fast. Whether it’s Ødegaard or Rice with the armband, what Arsenal fans truly crave is silverware, not symbolism.

🗣️ What do you think—Should Arteta hand Rice the captain’s armband? Or should he back Ødegaard to rediscover his best form?

#ArsenalDebate #CaptaincyDrama #Ødegaard #DeclanRice #UCL2025 #ArtetaEra #GunnersTalk #PremierLeague