Before every game at Emirates Stadium, Martin Odegaard lifts the lid on the mood in the camp via his captain’s notes published in the matchday programme.
Ahead of tonight's game against Monaco, the skipper discusses his pride at completing a century of games as our captain, how he's finding the new Champions League format and his joy at becoming a father for the first time!
It was my 100th game as captain on Sunday, which I am very proud of. I think I’m a different captain now to when I first had the armband, for sure. Of course my principles are still the same, trying to do it my own way, being myself and doing what I feels right. But I’ve learned a lot along the way and I’ve matured a lot, grown into the role and I feel a lot more comfortable as a
captain than when I first got it. I’m still learning and have got more to learn, but of course I’m enjoying it so far.
I saw the stats about having the best win rate of any of Arsenal captain over the past 30 years or so, and I'm very proud of that. It’s a great achievement, because this is a huge club with a lot of great captains, and looking at the list of names you see some of the biggest players in our history there. But it’s a reflection on what we are doing as a team over the past few years. We are winning a lot of games, which is great, and to reach that landmark is amazing, so I’m really proud.
[Read more
Odegaard to captain us for 100th time at Fulham](https://www.arsenal.com/news/odegaard-captain-us-100th-time-fulham?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
We just look forward though, and we’ve got another big one tonight back in the Champions League. We've got some momentum in this competition after the big win in Portugal, and we have to carry that on. It’s crucial that we can finish in the top eight if we can, to get to the next round and also to avoid those two extra matches early next year.
That was the main goal for us before the start of the competition, and it’s a bit tricky with the new format to know exactly what is required, but if we win tonight that would put us in a very good position, so that’s what we’re going to try to do.
I think they brought in the new format to make sure all the games are exciting and every game counts, and to be fair that’s what’s happened. In the last few years, we’ve seen that some of the groups were already decided by this time, so for sure it’s a lot more open this year, and there’s the uncertainty of not knowing how many points you need. So it’s worked, and yes there are a couple more games, but at least it’s more exciting and more unpredictable.
[Read more
Learn more about the new Champions League format](https://www.arsenal.com/news/champions-league-202425-teams-we-might-play?utm_source=arsenaldotcom&utm_medium=embedded-article&utm_campaign=news)
These are my first programme notes since we announced the birth of our baby son, and becoming a father is just the best feeling in life. We’re so grateful to have that opportunity, because it’s such a special time for us now to create our own family. It’s something we have always wanted, so it’s a really special time.
We have quite a few parents among the team and in the staff as well so I’ve been getting a lot of good tips and advice. There is a lot to learn! So it’s really nice to have those people around you who have been through it all. It’s obviously a big change to your life overnight, but it’s all good vibes. Helene is great, she’s doing so well and is so strong, so we’re all doing well and loving it.
The next thing we need to arrange is his first trip to Emirates Stadium! Maybe that could be this week, we’ll have to see.
Read the rest of Martin's notes, as well as a host of other fantastic content, by buying the Arsenal v Monaco programme either around the stadium oronline - orget a subscription to receive every edition through your door.
See the team in action at Arsenal Stadium tonight. Final tickets remaining, available to Arsenal Silver and Red Membersvia Ticket Exchange.
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