Should Martin Odegaard be replaced as Arsenal captain?

Martin Odegaard has endured a very mixed season for Arsenal and his recent performances have led to many fans questioning if he should remain as the club's captain.

The skipper suffered an injury in the early stages of the season and looked back to his best upon his return but following that small purple patch, he has failed to have a dramatic impact throughout the campaign. His performance in the 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain highlighted how much the side need him to step up.

He has consistently struggled to perform this season, scoring just five goals and assisting a further ten in all competitions, and while that has come down to his form and ability, fans have also started to contemplate whether he should be the player to lead this side going into the future.

There have been multiple high-profile cases of skippers being stripped of the armband over the years and with Odegaard not demonstrating a true leader mentality in recent games, is it time for Mikel Arteta to consider replacing him as Arsenal captain?

Should Martin Odegaard be replaced as Arsenal captain?

While some fans think replacing Martin Odegaard would be as simple as Mikel Arteta just taking the armband away from him, that certainly won't be the case. The boss would have to give a lot of thought into making such a decision.

At first sight, it's hard to disagree with such calls considering how poor the skipper has been at leading from example this season. His lack of action on the pitch, both as a captain and player, do not bode well for him with other players such as Declan Rice attracting far more praise for demonstrating leadership skills. However, when you dive deeper, it must be questioned if stripping Odegaard of the armband would be a wise choice.

Such a change would have the potential to spark uproar in the changing room with the likelihood of players disagreeing with the decision. Odegaard is popular among his Arsenal teammates so it would be understandable if one or two were to disagree.

Having done so well to erase the supposed "toxic" atmosphere the club used to host, the last thing Arteta would want to do is allow that attitude to creep back into the dressing room.

It is also very rare to see a captain be stripped of their role without leaving the club soon after. Two Arsenal stars, William Gallas and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both departed north London shortly after having the armband taken away due to growing tensions with management.

Despite his underwhelming form throughout this campaign, Odegaard remains an incredible footballer and one who can help the Gunners reach the highest level possible so if taking the captaincy away from him increases the chances of him leaving the club, it should not happen.

Arteta would be smart to look back to how Granit Xhaka was removed as club captain by his predecessor Unai Emery in 2019. Given the circumstances surrounding it, that decision was justified and Odegaard has not done anything near the Swiss' actions to be stripped of the role.

Xhaka was replaced as skipper by Aubameyang and we all know how that turned out. The Gabon forward led the club to an FA Cup win in the COVID-stricken 2019-20 season but his performances dipped soon after and he eventually left the club on bad terms for Barcelona in 2022. Xhaka, on the other hand, ended up evolving into a fan favourite and was a key part of the first title challenge under Arteta before departing the club two years ago.

While the Swiss midfielder did manage to rejuvenate his Arsenal career, the reason he was replaced as captain does not compare to Odegaard's current performances so Arteta would likely use that as a key reason not to strip the Norwegian of the armband.

There is a possibility that taking the captaincy away from Odegaard would improve his performances however. Match of the Day pundit and ex-Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson told Paddy Power that could be the case.

Lawrenson said: "The captain’s armband should be taken away from Martin Odegaard, so he can get back to focusing on his performances. We all know that he’s a good player, but he’s just had a six out of 10 season."

While the five-time league champion does make a good case, Odegaard has put in plenty of brilliant performances while wearing the armband. In his first campaign as skipper, he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists as he led his side in a title charge against Manchester City so there's no denying he can perform.

If Arteta was to remove Odegaard from the role of the captain, he would at least have a suitable replacement in the form of Rice, something Lawrenson acknowledged. The England international has earned constant praise for his leadership on the pitch since crossing the London divide in 2023.

Most have suggested that should be what happens going forward and it's hard to argue against the idea that Rice is a better leader than his Norwegian teammate, but that does not mean it has to happen. It would be entirely plausible for him to take on a bigger role, perhaps as a vice-captain, but to replace Odegaard completely would not be wise.

The only way Odegaard should be replaced as Arsenal captain is if he were to leave the club. Stripping him of the armband but keeping him in the side has the potential to cause a rift in the dressing room and attract bad headlines, something Arteta definitely does not need. Rice would be more than suitable to take over but it would feel just a bit uncomfortable to see him leading the side when his former superior is still involved.

There is a possibility that taking the captaincy away from Odegaard would lift some pressure off him and allow him to focus entirely on his performances. However, he has put on a number of great displays while in the role so there is nothing to say he can't go back to doing so.

Martin Odegaard's performances this season have not been good enough, especially as the club captain, but he has not done anything to justify being replaced. He can get back to his best and to strip the armband from him would do no help so he needs the full support of the team and the fans, not criticism and backlash, in order to improve.

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