Arteta Confirms Odegaard to Continue as Arsenal Captain After Squad Vote

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martin Ødegaard will retain the captain’s armband for the 2024/25 season, following a unanimous vote by the squad this week.

The decision comes after former Gunners skipper Tony Adams publicly suggested that Declan Rice should take over the role, arguing the England international would be a stronger leader for the current squad.

Arteta, however, made it clear that both his opinion and that of the players were firmly in Ødegaard’s favour.

“My opinion is clear, and it is the same as all the staff and the players,” Arteta said.

“I asked them to vote [for] the captain yesterday and by a mile, by a mile, they all chose the same person, Martin Ødegaard. Which is the most clear sign you can have of how the squad feel we can improve.”

Opinion:
While Adams’ call for Rice to lead Arsenal was bound to spark debate, the reality is that leadership in football isn’t always about who shouts the loudest—it’s about who commands respect, earns trust, and inspires by example. Ødegaard has quietly become the heartbeat of this Arsenal side, blending creativity with relentless work rate and a calm authority that resonates with his teammates.

The fact that the vote wasn’t close—“by a mile”, as Arteta put it—speaks volumes. It shows not only the squad’s trust in Ødegaard’s leadership but also the unity and clarity within the dressing room ahead of a potentially defining season. Rice may be a leader in his own right, but for now, the armband is exactly where it belongs.

And if Arsenal are to finally push over the finish line in the title race, having a captain the entire squad stands behind could be one of their biggest strengths.