Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is facing renewed criticism from Tony Adams before Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Adams says Arsenal’s leadership issue is obvious as the title race tightens and the club heads into a game that could reshape the table in Eastern Time terms later this week. Arteta has already said the players nominated Declan Rice to captain the side in their last two matches, but Adams remains unconvinced.
Pressure builds before the Etihad Stadium test
Arsenal go into the match after winning only one of their last five games in all competitions, a run that has arrived at the sharpest point of the campaign. A City win would cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points, with Pep Guardiola’s side also holding a game in hand.
Adams, who made more than 650 appearances for Arsenal, has pointed to the contrast between City’s on-pitch leadership and Arsenal’s current setup. He highlighted Bernardo Silva’s influence as a key factor in City’s momentum, while noting that Martin Odegaard has been hindered by injury and is expected to be in the matchday squad, though his minutes remain unclear.
Adams questions the process behind the captaincy
Adams took direct aim at Arteta for asking the players to choose their captain. “After I made the comment about Odegaard before the start of the season, Arteta went to the players and said: ‘Who do you want as captain?’” Adams said. “Why do you need the manager then? You pick your captain, you get your rapport, you have got your vice-captains and stuff and you create a bond. ”
He added that Rice is the player he views as the stronger leadership fit. “I think Declan is a super leader and super player, and I’ve said, I feel that he should be Arsenal captain anyway, ” Adams said. That view has gained more attention because Arteta confirmed the squad itself chose Rice to lead in the last two matches.
Rice earns trust while Odegaard’s role is in focus
Arteta said the players made the decision because Rice had “earned the status” and shown ownership in difficult moments. He praised the England international as a “great leader” and welcomed the fact that the squad had taken responsibility in the absence of Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, who has often served as the Norwegian’s deputy.
Rice captained Arsenal in the recent league fixture against Bournemouth and again in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP. Arteta said he values that shared responsibility, while Rice responded that the only concern was progress, not outside opinion.
The situation has created a broader debate around whether Arsenal’s structure is giving the side enough clarity at a critical stage. For Adams, the issue is not just who wears the armband, but whether the manager is setting the leadership tone himself.
What comes next for Arsenal manager Arteta
The immediate answer will come on Sunday in Manchester, where Arsenal face a City side capable of tightening the title race within a single result. Arteta has already turned the conversation toward belief and control, while Adams has kept the focus on leadership and decisiveness.
With the stakes rising and the margin at the top still narrow, the attention on Arsenal manager Arteta will only intensify if the Etihad trip turns into another difficult night. The next few days may not settle the captaincy argument, but they will show whether Arsenal’s leadership choices are helping or hurting their title push.
