Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has identified his replacement for club captain Martin Odegaard, in another shock management move.
That’s according to a report that says that no one is safe under the ruthless Spaniard, who has already controversially axed fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale this season in favour of David Raya. Like Ramsdale, skipper Odegaard recently signed a new contract with the Gunners, becoming one of the club’s highest earners.
And despite the fact that Odegaard contributed 15 goals from midfield last term and has been a regular in Arteta’s midfield, life beyond the Norwegian may be in the back of the Arsenal manager’s mind.
Martin Odegaard has recently signed a new Arsenal deal (Image credit: Getty Images)
A report from The Daily Mail states that Arteta believes Declan Rice will captain the club during his spell with the Gunners.
Odegaard took over the armband from Alexandre Lacazette in the summer of 2022, when the Frenchman returned to Lyon. The north Londoners had a curse with the skippership up until that point but the No.8 has bucked the trend, with Gabriel Jesus vice-captain and Granit Xhaka taking the role last season on occasion, too.
VIDEO: How Arsenal EVOLVED Declan Rice To Beat Man United
While the report doesn’t explicitly state that Odegaard is being considered for transfer any time soon, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine in the next two years.
The Gunners have a wealth of options on the 24-year-old’s right-sided central midfield position. Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Kai Havertz are all good fits for the position, while Bukayo Saka may fill the position long-term. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly from the Hale End academy are options, too.
Declan Rice will be captain of Arsenal one day, according to reports (Image credit: Getty Images)
Odegaard’s new contract extension has him at the Emirates Stadium until 2028.
The former Real Madrid star is valued at €90 million by Transfermarkt.
More Arsenal stories
Declan Rice has exclusively revealed to FourFourTwo why he chose to sign for Arsenal this summer.
FFT also caught up with former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey, who explained why he turned down a move to the Saudi Pro League in favour of re-joining Cardiff City.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsdale has been labelled ‘f*cking weird’ by one of his ex-Gunners teammates.
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