Declan Rice has praised Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard for his leadership abilities as the club marches towards the end of the season. The England international applauded the Norwegian midfielder, calling him “one of the best” he’s seen. Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table with just a single point separating them from second-placed Manchester City. Declan Rice has praised Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s leadership abilities and described the Norwegian as “one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
England midfielder Rice knows a thing or two about captaincy, having worn the armband at his former club West Ham.
And in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, he wasted no time in complimenting Odegaard for the way he has led Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders this season.Declan Rice has praised Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s leadership abilities and described the Norwegian as “one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
England midfielder Rice knows a thing or two about captaincy, having worn the armband at his former club West Ham.
And in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, he wasted no time in complimenting Odegaard for the way he has led Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders this season. After initially arriving on loan from Real Madrid in 2021, Odegaard has become a key member of Arteta’s resurgent Arsenal side.
Since taking the captaincy in 2022, a decision that was questioned by some at the time, he’s led by example and justified his manager’s faith.
Still, Rice knows he doesn’t fit the traditional style of some of the club’s famed captains.
“If you look at Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, like hard-hitting centre-half/midfielders. Martin is just an out-of-this-world No. 10, he’s so special,” Rice said.
“But he knows what it’s like to play for this club. He was here in the tough times and now he’s come through that and he’s arguably one of the best players in the Premier League this season and the last few years.
“He just makes something happen out of nothing. He’s probably the best trainer, he’s just so elegant. Just everything down to the way he lives his life, how he treats this game as a profession, he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Rice is finishing his maiden season at Arsenal after establishing himself as one of England’s best midfielders at West Ham, where he had been since the age of 14.
Arteta came calling after a £100 million move, the 25-year-old is challenging for the trophies and accolades he always dreamed of in a “whirlwind season.”
“I said that I wanted to play in the biggest games and compete for the biggest trophies,” Rice said with a grin widening across his face.
“Now that I’ve been involved in a title race, I can see now why it gets hyped up to and lived up to so much just because of the pressure that comes with it, the moments that get delivered.
“It’s been everything I’ve wanted it to be. I’ve really, really enjoyed it, tried to take one game at a time and just express ourselves as a team.
“We’re doing really well, just obviously three games to go that we need to focus on.”
Although West Ham finished 14th in Rice’s final season, the club finished 7th and 6th in the two years prior, serving as a mere appetiser of what he’s experiencing now.
Now, he’s tasting the true rivalry and combative nature of a title race.
“As you keep winning more games, more pressure comes, you start pushing up the table and then you’re at the top, there’s a lot more noise,” he continued.
“You start to play with the big teams that are around you and obviously the pressure of those games is really big.
“Just playing against the big teams in these big moments. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
While Rice has helped transform the Gunners, adding solidity and an extra bite in their midfield, Rice reflected on how his experience with Arteta has evolved his game in a single season.
“Positionally is probably the biggest thing that I’ve taken on this year. When you have the ball so much, just in terms of picking up different positions on the pitch and where to go in relation to your team-mates.
“The other big thing that stands out is it’s my highest goal-scoring season, and assists. I’ve been really happy with that, every time I get an assist it feels really good. I want to try and get to 10 assists at least.”
With three games left in the Premier League, Rice and Arsenal sit top of the table, a single point ahead of Manchester City who have a game in hand.
The anticipation of ending his first season with a Premier League title is almost too enticing.
“It’s exciting to talk about. They (Arsenal) deserve it so much,” he said.
“You look at the history of the club, the class of the club, it’s unbelievable. Arsenal belong back with the major trophies.”