Martin Odegaard has hit back at Arsenal legend Tony Adams and defended his style of captaincy.
The Norway international was handed the armband three years ago and has led a young team that was emerging as top four contenders to the brink of Premier League glory.
Having finished as runners-up three seasons on the trot, Adams believes a change of captaincy could be the decisive factor in helping his old club get over the line.
Adams, who skippered four title-winning teams under George Graham and Arsene Wenger,has championed the cause of Declan Rice and fears Arsenal will never land the prizes they crave with Odegaard wearing the armband.
What Tony Adams said about Martin Odegaard
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He said: ‘The call is to make Declan Rice the captain. I think Declan is my kind of captain, and it might free Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom,’ Adams said.
‘Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to the next level.
‘He (Arteta) has got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner,’ he added. ‘To win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [Sir Alex] Ferguson.
‘You have to lead by example, you have to be a winner, you have to go about your business. And that reflects in your captain.
‘And I’m seeing Declan Rice as a captain but I’m saying to Arteta: Come on, step up now. It’s your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager, because you’re not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.’
On the eve of the new campaign, Odegaard was asked about his leadership style and revealed details of what he believes makes him such an effective leader.
He told Sky Sports: ‘It’s a lot to be fair. It’s a lot of small things. It’s hard to describe it, it’s more like a constant role you do.
‘There’s always these small things you have to do. In general it’s just how I see it is to get the best out of the team and how to give the team the right mindset. Help the players around you, get the best mindset in everyone.
‘I think before the game just on the pitch I do a little one (team talk) and inside the dressing room we have different people talking.
‘It’s not just me there’s a lot of people sharing the responsibility and the manager does a lot as well. It’s a shared thing. It’s not just me all the time.’
Adams’ view, meanwhile, clearly holds little water with Arteta who launched a passionate defence of Odegaard ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Mikel Arteta defends Martin Odegaard
‘Martin has got hundreds of qualities and everybody who has come across him will notice them very quickly,’ he said.
‘The biggest one is that to be named captain, to be respected and especially admired by somebody, he doesn’t need to shout.
‘That’s a massive 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 everybody says ‘he’s my captain, I want him to represent, I trust him 100 per cent, he’s the guy I want to have next to me.’
