From The Daily Telegraph. (That's an interview worth reading between Alan Smith and Tony Adams from last December btw)
“I’ve been texting RVP,” said Adams. “I think he’s a nice guy and was always captaincy material but, before, he just didn’t have enough support. It was much easier for me in my time. I had six or seven lieutenants around me, people who could also take charge.
“So that was something I said to him – get some players around you to back you up. You can’t do it alone. And to be fair, I think Per [Mertesacker] has been a big help. He’s been a good ally in the dressing room from what I hear. Before, there was conflict but now there seems to be a lot more togetherness.”
Adams mentions Mertesacker, I'm sure he's one of the senior voices in the dressing room, but I also think Robin has his "lieutenants" in Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Arteta, Rosicky, maybe even one or two others - and I think each of those players have really stepped up and led the team in the last 6 weeks or so. There's a proper spine to the team again, they'd go to war for each other. It's great to see. And Vermaelen's definitely his right hand man.
Btw - Tony has left Gabala FC in Azerbaijan, is back in England and is unemployed - could we see him come in as Arsene's assistant this summer in place of the retiring Pat Rice? One legend replacing another.
Robin certainly wants it:
I try to do it my way. I do it differently, but every day I try to make sure, as a captain, that we are a really united bunch of players. If Tony Adams could ever return here at Arsenal in some capacity, I would be the first person to support him. I think it’s crucial to have somebody like him, with all his experience, on our staff.
“I am a big fan of his and I know that the boys would also appreciate his presence. The first thing players do is look at somebody’s track record.
“Also, with Tony as a player you can talk about football, about life and private things, as he has overcome some hurdles in that way. To me, he is the prime example of a born winner.”
Wouldn't do any harm when it comes to signing his new contract either.
