Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard signed a new deal recently – but may relinquish the armband in the future
(Image credit: Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
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 Mailstates 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.
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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.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
