Arsenal told what change they need to win the Premier League title

Vishal Bhawani

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Arsenal told what change they need to win the Premier League title image

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has set the cat among the pigeons at the Emirates.

The Gunners legend believes Mikel Arteta must make one bold decision if he wants to finally lift the Premier League trophy — take the captain’s armband away from Martin Odegaard and hand it to Declan Rice.

Adams, who won four league titles with Arsenal, says Rice is the kind of leader who can turn near misses into silverware.

Arsenal have finished second in three of the last four seasons, each time falling short against Manchester City or Liverpool.

Odegaard, captain since 2022, has impressed with his skill but, in Adams’ eyes, hasn’t brought the winning edge the team needs.

“He’s got a really big call to make this year and for me he hasn’t done it,” Adams told the Indo Sport podcast.

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“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.”

Why Tony Adams wants Declan Rice to be the next Arsenal captain?

Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham for around £105m in 2023 and has quickly become a fan favorite. Adams believes his stamina, grit, and ability to inspire teammates make him the ideal man to lead the squad.

“To win league titles, you have to be a Klopp or a Ferguson,” Adams added. “You have to lead by example. Declan Rice can do that, Odegaard can’t. Come on Arteta, make him captain.”

The timing of Adams’ comments is telling. Arsenal begin their league campaign with a tough trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday.

A win there could make a statement — and perhaps spark the leadership conversation even louder.

For now, Arteta appears set to stick with Odegaard. And if Arsenal want to end their 20-year title drought, Adams thinks it’s time to roll the Rice.

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.