Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has defended captain Martin Odegaard after his poor form led to criticism of the armband’s appropriateness, แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ saying outsiders cannot understand the Norwegian’s influence in the dressing room.
Odegaard has been out for a month with an ankle injury since the beginning of the season, and when he returned to lead the team to victory, he looked very weak. Especially in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, where they lost 0-1 to Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium. It is completely extinguish.
Pundits on TV and behind the keyboard are therefore inclined to slam the 26-year-old as no longer fit to lead the Gunners and instead hand the armband to Rice. The former captain of West Ham’s Conference League-winning side.
However, the English player quickly denied it and gave encouragement to Martin to show his form and silence the critics.
“He is our leader, our captain,” he said at a press conference ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain (May 7).
“He has a lot of respect in our locker room, the way he communicates, demands and pushes the team.”
“I don’t want anyone else to be our captain. He can carry the team to the biggest stage.”
“We are all with Martin.”
The numbers never lie. Odegaard has five goals and 11 assists in 41 games in all competitions this season , compared to 11 goals and 12 assists in 48 games in all competitions last season.