The question of who should wear the captain's armband at Arsenal has been thrust back into the spotlight following Declan Rice's commanding display in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolves on Saturday. The England midfielder's instinctive leadership during the frantic finale at the Emirates has led many supporters to echo legendary former skipper Tony Adams in calling for a change.
Rice's Pivotal Moment in Dramatic Wolves Win
In a nail-biting Premier League encounter, Arsenal looked to have thrown away two crucial points. After Sam Johnstone's own goal put the Gunners ahead, Wolves' Tolu Arokodare struck a 90th-minute equaliser. The hosts' relief was palpable when, deep into injury time, Yerson Mosquera turned the ball into his own net to secure a last-gasp win for Mikel Arteta's side.
While teammates erupted in celebration, Declan Rice's reaction was markedly different. The £105 million signing was seen urging calm, reminding his colleagues that the job was not finished and appearing to chastise them for getting carried away against the league's bottom side. This contrasted with the visible euphoria of the absent club captain, Martin Odegaard, who was watching from the sidelines as he recovers from injury.
The Captaincy Stance: Support and Speculation
Despite the growing external noise, Rice has been unequivocal in his public support for the current captaincy structure. Speaking in November 2025, the former West Ham captain stated, "Martin Odegaard is our main captain. He's incredible, but there's also a group behind the scenes that help Martin out whenever he needs it."
He emphasised a collective leadership approach, adding, "I feel like we do have more leaders now in the group than we've ever had, so that's a really good thing for us." This stance, however, stands in direct opposition to the views of Arsenal icon Tony Adams. The former centre-back, who captained the club to multiple titles, suggested in the summer that Odegaard should be replaced by Rice, citing the latter's character and superior fitness record.
Adams' opinion has found support from another former Gunner, Anders Limpar. The Swede told BoyleSports, "If Tony Adams says Declan Rice should be Arsenal captain I will stand behind it... He is one of the best skippers there has been in the game."
Fan Sentiment and Title Race Implications
On social media and fan forums, a significant portion of the Arsenal support is rallying behind the idea of Rice taking the armband. One fan argued online, "Make Rice captain, it makes complete sense. Arteta will live and die by what Arsenal win this season, at the moment it's on a knife edge."
Another posted, "Tony Adams was right, the captain’s armband needs to go to Rice. It’s a hard but necessary decision. Love Odegaard but he’s just not as influential or vocal on the pitch as Rice." The debate is framed by many as a potential decisive factor in Arsenal's quest to win their first Premier League title since 2004, with Rice's on-pitch authority seen as a critical asset.
The situation presents manager Mikel Arteta with a delicate decision. Odegaard, 26, has been a transformative figure since his 2021 arrival and is a popular leader within the squad. Yet the 26-year-old Rice's natural leadership and immediate impact since his 2023 transfer continue to fuel the debate. With Bukayo Saka also having deputised, Arsenal are not short of leadership candidates, but the clamour for Rice grows louder with each commanding performance.
