Martin Odegaard told Arsenal team-mate could replace him as captain next season

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Declan Rice will be named Arsenal captain next year, reckons Joleon Lescott . The English midfielder has become a pivotal cog for the title-hunting Gunners.

Since his £105million move from West Ham in the summer of 2023 the 26-year-old has cemented himself as one of the first names on Mikel Arteta's teamsheet. He has started all but one of his team's league fixtures this campaign.

Rice's squad are led by Martin Odegaard , who was named Arsenal captain in 2022 and has kept hold of the armband since. Players voted in a reported landslide this year to keep him as the club's skipper.

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However, former Manchester City and Everton defender Lescott thinks Rice, who is a member of the five-person leadership team at the Emirates , could take over from the Norwegian as early as next season.

"He [Rice] is the world's most well-rounded midfielder," said Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer brought to you by Sky Bet. "I think he'll be the next Arsenal captain.

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"I think he might even be captain next season. Because I don't think Odegaard is guaranteed to start when [Eberechi] Eze is performing at a level like he is now.

"So I think it'll get to a point… Declan's gonna play every week. It comes down to him as a player but there's also not a replacement version of him.

"That's probably the one player Arsenal have not bought a replacement for. So I don't think you can rest him. Maybe only in FA Cup games!"

Vice-captain Bukayo Saka is handed the armband when Odegaard doesn't start. However, Lescott doesn't feel he possesses the traits of a skipper and has also suffered from injury troubles like Odegaard.

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"He [Saka] is not a captain," added Lescott. "Again he misses games. But with Declan just on availability alone he's like, 'I'm gonna be there.' I would say that would warrant him being captain."

There have been calls for Rice to be made captain of the Gunners but when such a question was put to him in May he was quick to explain why Odegaard is the ideal skipper.

"He [Odegaard] is our leader. He's our captain," Rice admitted. "He trains every single day, he plays every minute of every game. He's one of the best lads I've seen away from the pitch in terms of how he lives his life.

"He's got the full respect of the dressing room, the way he demands, the way he drives the team, the way he speaks. You wouldn't see him as that type of character, but he really is behind the scenes. He's been amazing for us and I wouldn't want anyone else being our captain. I think the lads feel the same way about that as well."

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