Arsenal secured the runners-up spot in the Premier League with a win over Newcastle on Sunday, with the game also convincing Piers Morgan that the Gunners need to change their skipper
Piers Morgan has called for Declan Rice to replace Martin Odegaard as Arsenal’s captain next season. Rice scored the winner as the Gunners beat Newcastle on Sunday to secure a runners-up finish in the Premier League.
That also sealed their qualification for next season’s Champions League. Rice has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, scoring nine goals and notching 10 assists in all competitions.
This is his second campaign at the Emirates Stadium after arriving in a club record £100million deal from West Ham. He spent his final season at the Hammers as captain, leading them to winning the Europa Conference League.
The England international has quickly become a key man for the Gunners and was man of the match in their Champions League quarter-final win over Real Madrid earlier in the season.
Odegaard has been Gunners skipper since the summer of 2022, though the Norwegian midfielder has struggled this season. Those struggles, coupled with Rice’s starring performances, has convinced Morgan it’s time for a change with the armband.
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He posted a photo of Rice celebrating his goal on Sunday, as well as issuing a demand to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Morgan hailed Rice as the ‘real leader’ of the Gunners, in comparison to Odegaard.
Morgan tweeted: “I’m going to say it… @_DeclanRice should be Arsenal club captain next season. He is the real leader of this team now, and our best player.”
Rice was bullish after the win over Newcastle, admitting the Gunners had been nowhere near good enough this season. But he was pleased to see off the Magpies and complete the target of qualifying for the Champions League.
“Look we’ve been poor by our standards the last few weeks in the Premier League. We obviously went so hard in the Champions League that our form dropped in the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports.
“That happens sometimes. Newcastle are such an improtant side and we’ve lot three times to them this year. The manager’s message was clear, take it personal, and we did today. Had a bit of a slow start but we grew into the game.
“We showed that grit and three points at home, it’s a nice day to top it off. We’re Premier League footballers, we have to be at the level every single week. We felt it was such a good chance in the Champions League we had the momenteum.
“With the league, it slipped away a few weeks ago. It was tough to take. But today to win was massive. Newcastle are such a good side so it’s a good win for us. It’s about time I started scoring frequently.
“It was a special moment and I’m really, really happy. After coming so close last year, this year by our standards was poor. To go out of every cup competition with the squad we’ve got, with the manager we’ve got, we need to be competing for titles. Next year we’ll be back for more.”
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