Tony Adams makes worrying Arsenal claim and slams Mikel Arteta ahead of Man City clash

Tony Adams has doubled down on his criticism of Mikel Arteta and his refusal to address the glaring lack of leadership at Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s title showdown against Manchester City.

A worrying loss of form, sparked by their Carabao Cup final defeat against today’s opponents, either side of the international break has left the Gunners clinging to their advantage at the top of the table.

Defeat at the Etihad would put City in control of their own destiny for the first time this season and Adams pointed to the dynamic between Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva as a major factor in the momentum shift.

While one of Guardiola’s most influential foot soldiers has begun to exert his influence on the pitch, Arsenal’s skipper has been conspicuous by his absence with his body succumbing to injury yet again just two games into his latest comeback.

Martin Odegaard is expected to be part of the matchday squad this afternoon but it remains to be seen how big a part he is able to play.

In any case, Adams, who skippered four different title-winning Arsenal sides, believes the Norway international would thrive were he to relinquish the armband and chastised Arteta for holding a vote and asking his players to select their leader.

He said: ‘After I made the comment about Odegaard before the start of the season,Arteta went to the players and said: “Who do you want as captain?”

‘And they all went…well, they’re not going to say it to him, are they? They said: “We love Odegaard. Hooray.”

‘Why do you need the manager then? You pick your captain, you get your rapport, you have got your vice-captains and stuff and you create a bond.

‘I look at Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva in the Carabao Cup Final win over Arsenal and you can see an instant chemistry there.

‘There was a leader. He was there if there’s a problem. I didn’t see the same with Arsenal.

‘I didn’t see Arteta going: “Right, we’re ten minutes into the second half. We’re struggling and we can’t get out, the left back’s out.

‘When I said the stuff about Odegaard at the start of the season, I thought he just needed the freedom to go and play without the extra stuff added.

‘And I think Declan is a super leader and super player, and I’ve said, I feel that he should be Arsenal captain anyway.’

Guardiola, meanwhile, admitted ‘part of myself is leaving’ with Silva as the City manager urged his side to give the outgoing Portugal playmaker the perfect send-off.

The City captain ended speculation about his future on Thursday by revealing he will depart the club at the end of the season when his contract expires following a trophy-laden nine years in the north-west.

Guardiola hopes Silva can add a couple of pieces of silverware to the 19 honours he has already won before he exits, with City aiming to bag the Premier League and FA Cup to complete a domestic treble.

Asked whether Silva going was the hardest goodbye for him, Guardiola replied: ‘Absolutely. When these types of players are going, and there have been many in the last years, part of myself is leaving too.

‘It will be difficult imagining (the club) without him. He made an incredible statement during nine years and he has been massively, massively, massively important.

‘Hopefully we can deliver to him, he’s going to help us, I know that. He’s a special player, hopefully we can deliver a good month, a few days, because he deserves it, he deserves the best.

‘We’ve won 19 titles together, we are still challenging for two more and we are going for it, that’s for sure. We are looking forward to the start and do our best.’