Riise Defends Odegaard as Arsenal Captain amid Calls for Declan Rice to Take the Armband
Pressure is mounting around Arsenal’s captaincy structure, but former Norway international John Arne Riise insists Martin Odegaard remains the right leader despite growing calls for Declan Rice to inherit the role.
Rice’s strong displays and vocal presence in midfield have led some pundits to suggest he should succeed the Norwegian as skipper. Joleon Lescott recently argued that the England midfielder has already shown the qualities needed to lead the side, hinting that a change “could even come next season.”
However, Riise disagrees, praising both players while urging Arsenal not to disrupt a hierarchy that has strong backing within the squad.
Speaking to footitalia.com, Riise stressed that Odegaard has earned the trust of his team-mates, pointing out that leadership at elite clubs often comes from multiple voices.
“Odegaard is hugely respected,” he said. “Declan Rice is a brilliant leader too, but not every leader needs the armband. The best teams have several figures that drive standards, and Martin is still a great captain.”
Riise added that strong communication between Odegaard, Rice and other senior players is one of Arsenal’s major assets this season.
Earlier in the campaign, Mikel Arteta revealed that Arsenal’s playing squad voted “by a mile” to keep Odegaard as captain. The manager described the player’s influence as vital, both on and off the pitch, and said the democratic vote left “no question whatsoever” about who should wear the armband.
That decision has coincided with Arsenal’s impressive start to the Premier League season, with the Gunners spending several weeks at the top of the table before a setback against Aston Villa tightened the title race.
Rice, who captained West Ham during his final season there, remains part of Arsenal’s leadership group and is widely admired for his professionalism and presence. Even without the band, he plays a crucial structural role in Arteta’s system and continues to be viewed as one of the squad’s natural organizers.
With competition in midfield increasing including dazzling form from Eberechi Eze some pundits speculate whether Odegaard’s place could come under pressure later in the season. But inside the club, the hierarchy seems settled for now.
As Arsenal balance title ambitions with squad rotation, the captaincy debate is unlikely to fade. But for the moment, the message from Riise, Arteta and the Arsenal dressing room is clear: Odegaard is still the man they trust to lead them.
Tags:
