Gabby Agbonlahor says Mikel Arteta could make a ‘massive decision’ that helps Martin Odegaard get back to his best

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal will be reliant on Martin Odegaard rediscovering his best form if they are to win the Premier League title next season.

Odegaard struggled in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring just three goals and registering eight assists in 30 league appearances.

The Norwegian suffered a significant ankle injury near the beginning of the season, which he failed to ever really recover from.

Winning the Gunners’ player of the year award in the two previous campaigns, it’s clear that Arsenal’s success is somewhat predicated on the form of their captain.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Gabby Agbonlahor says Mikel Arteta could strip Martin Odegaard of his captaincy

At his best, Odegaard is an extremely talented footballer.

The playmaker can run Arsenal’s entire attack, feeding the forward players with penetrative passes in dangerous positions on a consistent basis.

However, he’s also capable of playing within himself, as well as struggling with the physicality of bullish opposing midfielders.

Many feel this somewhat tame aspect of his game means he shouldn’t wear the armband for the Gunners.

Tony Adams thinks Declan Rice should be appointed Arsenal captain, with Odegaard instead taking a back seat.

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor agrees with Adams’ sentiments that this change is something that Mikel Arteta should consider.

“Declan Rice would play every game; he’s got captain material,” Agbonlahor said.

“Maybe that takes a bit of pressure off Odegaard and makes him get back to the form he had a few seasons ago.

“I think Tony Adams, if anyone, knows who should be captain, and I think Mikel Arteta probably agrees with him deep down. He might think it, but it’s a massive decision to make because Odegaard, how will he react to that? He might lose him as a player then.

“Odegaard’s got to do a lot more this season because losing out on the goals and assists that he normally gets for Arsenal could be the difference.

“You’ve got [Ethan] Nwaneri ready, he’s signed a new contract, he must’ve been told, ‘you’re going to be a bigger part than you did last year’. It’s going to be a really interesting season.”

Mikel Arteta should not strip Martin Odegaard of Arsenal captaincy

Agbonlahor’s point that not wearing the captain’s armband could take the pressure off Odegaard may be valid.

However, it’s more likely that stripping him of this honour and privilege will have the opposite effect.

Removing Odegaard from this status could derail the player’s confidence, and could well alienate him in the dressing room.

It would essentially be a vote of no confidence from Arteta in the player’s character and personality, which would inevitably have negative effects on his performances.

This would also then have an adverse effect on Arsenal as a team, losing their only player who is an excellent creative passer.

Odegaard loves playing with Ethan Nwaneri, but the youngster is ultimately not yet at the level to take the Norway international’s mantle.

The former Real Madrid man was also already captain in his two Player of the Year-winning seasons, suggesting this soft factor hasn’t been inhibiting him.

Ultimately, who wears the armband is somewhat futile in the modern game, with every member of the leadership group within Arteta’s ranks all capable of contributing to the squad’s guidance on and off the pitch.