EPL: Mikel Arteta reveals decision on sacking Odegaard as Arsenal captain

Published

9 months ago

May 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, has taken his stance on sacking Martin Odegaard as the captain of his team.

There have been rumours claiming that Martin Odegaard could be stripped of the Arsenal captain’s armband.

This is following Arsenal’s series of disappointing performances and exit from the Champions League.

The Athletic reports that these claims are baseless and the Norwegian will retain the armband next season.

The midfielder was sidelined with a knee injury for nearly three months after he started the season.

However, the former Real Madrid midfielder’s performance has wavered of late as he has scored just one goal in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

Odegaard’s was not his real self across the two legs of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.

He was not able to impact both legs of the game both at the Emirates, and the Parc des Princes.

Arsenal fell to a 1-0 loss against the Ligue 1 giants in London in the first leg.

Mark Lawrenson had asked Arteta to strip the Norwegian of captaincy and give it to Declan Rice.

The Athletic had claimed that Arsenal fairly certain that the Norwegian will still be the Arsenal captain at the start of next season.

Odegaard was named Arsenal captain in 20022 following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette from the Emirates Stadium.

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2026 World Cup: Super Eagles waiting for FIFA’s decision – Iwobi

Published

23 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Super Eagles playmaker, Alex Iwobi, has admitted they are waiting to see if the team would still play at the 2026 World Cup.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is optimistic of a potential lifeline from FIFA, after it submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Iwobi was asked by SuperSport if he would rather lift the AFCON 2025 trophy or qualify for the World Cup?

The 29-year-old, who played at the 2018 of the World Cup, replied: “I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.

“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have like in your career, a memorable moment.

“But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been. They would like to say ‘I want to go to the World Cup,’ so I can’t be selfish and say win the AFCON and for my teammates to not go to the World Cup. So it’s a tough one. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Politics

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE OF THE SUPER EAGLES ON THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER

Published

1 week ago

January 30, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences

to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.

The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.

President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.

“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.

I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.

President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)