Odegaard responds to Tony Adams' opinion about making Rice captain

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has brushed off criticism from Tony Adams after the former club skipper questioned whether he should still wear the armband.

Adams, who captained the Gunners to titles in three separate decades, said last month that he felt Declan Rice would be a more suitable leader for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Speaking at an event in Dublin, the ex-defender urged the Arsenal manager to “make him captain”, arguing Rice had the qualities to build the foundations of a title-winning team.

Odegaard, however, was unfazed when asked about the remarks during a press conference with Norway. “I do not care that much, to be honest,” he said.

“Everyone can have their opinion and say what they want, and I am all right with that. I cannot care about what everyone says. There are always positive and negative things, but I cannot let it affect me.”

The 26-year-old was given the armband in 2022, a year after making his move from Real Madrid permanent. He has since made over 200 appearances for the Gunners and has also captained Norway since 2021.

His leadership was reinforced at the start of this season when Arteta revealed the players voted on the captaincy, with Odegaard winning “by a mile”.

“It was his choice in the end anyway, but it was nice confirmation for me,” Odegaard added.

Questions over his suitability as captain resurfaced last season when his form dipped during a difficult run for the team. For Odegaard, ensuring his performances improve is a greater priority than debates about who should wear the armband.

His start to the new campaign has been disrupted by a shoulder injury sustained in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds United. He was forced off in the first half of that game and only featured as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool the following week.

During the international break, he was fit enough to start Norway’s 1-0 friendly win over Finland, though he was withdrawn at half-time as part of a planned round of substitutions. He insisted the problem is now under control and expects to be ready for both club and country.

Norway face Moldova in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday before Odegaard returns to England, where Arsenal host Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League fixture.

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