Arsenal’s captain meeting with Odegaard verdict after Rice took action | Football | Sport

A unanimous decision was made within the Arsenal squad last summer for Martin Odegaard to remain club captain. After a lackluster performance against Wolves, despite winning 2-1, some fans are wondering if a change of captain might be necessary.

The Gunners’ victory hinged on two own goals, with the winner coming in the 94th minute. Odegaard, who had been sidelined due to injury, did not come on until the second half. Declan Rice’s post-match actions sparked a debate among some fans over whether he should return to the captain’s armband. A video clip shared on social media showed Rice expressing frustration with the team’s performance, despite winning.

He was seen having a brief exchange with teammate Gabriel Magalhaes before heading towards the tunnel.

As a member of Arsenal’s management group, such a reaction from Rice is not unexpected. However, this does not negatively impact Odegaard’s role as captain.

The Norwegian continues to wield the armband and exerts his influence in various ways, making him an effective leader.

It is understood that the current Arsenal skipper spoke to the team after the match and is working tirelessly with his colleagues and coaching staff to ensure any mistakes made are a thing of the past. Likewise, he protected the younger members of the team during the most difficult periods of the campaign, notably against Wolves.

Shortly after confirming his appointment as captain, Mikel Arteta detailed precisely the attributes that resulted in the Norwegian being selected as frontman.

“Martin has hundreds of qualities and anyone who has met him will notice them very quickly,” he said.

“The most important thing is that to be named captain, to be respected and above all admired by someone, he doesn’t need to shout. It’s a huge quality. A lot of people talk and shout, and then when you close the door, they do something very different.

“Martin doesn’t need to open his mouth and everyone says ‘he’s my captain, I want him to represent, I trust him 100 percent, he’s the guy I want to have on my side.'”

The Arsenal manager then revealed the atmosphere in the camp after the match to determine the captain: “By far, by a big, big 100 points, everyone chose the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, which is the clearest sign you can have, what they think about who their captain should be to defend, improve and win the games that we want to win.

“So, I mean, there’s no doubt about it.”

When Odegaard is unavailable, Arsenal reportedly have a management group of four others who can take on the role. Those four would be Bukayo Saka, Rice, Gabriel and Mikel Merino.

During Odegaard’s recent injury, it was mainly Saka who donned the armband.

Even Rice himself has openly expressed his views on Odegaard’s role and his opinion of him as club captain.

“Yes, he’s incredible, he’s our leader, he’s our captain,” he said earlier in the season. “He trains every day, he plays every minute of every game, he’s one of the best guys I’ve seen off the field in terms of how he lives his life.

“He has all the respect in the dressing room, the way he demands, the way he leads the team, the way he talks. You wouldn’t see him as that kind of character, but he’s really behind the scenes.

“He’s been incredible for us, I wouldn’t want anyone else to be our captain, and I think the guys, you know, feel the same way about it too. Obviously everyone has a dip in form. I’ve had dips in form before, but it doesn’t matter because he can deliver on the biggest stage.”