Arsenal have a date with destiny on Wednesday night as they look to get the better of Paris Saint-Germain and join Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
The Gunners trail PSG 1-0 from the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium, courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early goal.
Mikel Arteta is set to unleash his big guns for Arsenal at PSG and, as the captain, Martin Odegaard is a shoo-in to start for the Gunners.
Odegaard’s recent form has led to criticism from certain quarters, but Declan Rice isn’t having any of it as he made his feelings clear on the Arsenal skipper.
Declan Rice says Arsenal star Martin Odegaard is ‘one of our best players’
Rice, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, began by saying every player has had dips in form, including himself.
He backed Odegaard to “deliver on the biggest stage” on Wednesday night and made it clear that all of the Arsenal dressing room is fully behind him.
“Obviously, everyone has dips in form, I’ve had different dips in form before,” Rice said.
“[But] it doesn’t matter because he can deliver on the biggest stage, and tomorrow night I’m sure he will.
“We’re ready and we’re always with Martin because he’s one of our best players.”
Rice has stressed that the £30million man remains a key figure on and off the pitch for the Gunners, sharing what he’s really like behind the scenes.
“He’s our leader, he’s our captain,” Rice continued.
“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.”
Martin Keown’s big Martin Odegaard claim
It wasn’t all that long ago that many Arsenal fans were bemoaning Odegaard’s injury-enforced absence and saying it was a huge blow for their title hopes.
When he’s at his best, Odegaard is absolutely unplayable, and what his peers have said about him speaks volumes – despite whatever downturn in form he may be going through.
Back in November, Highbury legend Martin Keown claimed there is no player more important to their side than Odegaard is to Arsenal.
“He’s created 102 chances – more than anyone in the Premier League – and 41 times he’s retrieved the ball in the final third so in and out of possession,” he said at the time.
“I’m struggling to think of a more important player in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand said he felt Odegaard’s absence during his injury only boosted his value at the Emirates Stadium outfit.
“The crazy thing about Odegaard is that he’s actually become a better player whilst playing no games,” Ferdinand said.
Anyone who plays or has played professional football knows about the nature of losing form.
And the thing about form is that, just as it can go, it can come back – so there’s every chance Odegaard could step up and shine against PSG.
