Martin Odegaard kicked off the new season in style, finding the net and lifting yet another trophy. Mikel Arteta believes this is just the beginning, expecting even more from his captain in the months ahead.
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal fans will see a different side to Martin Odegaard this season.
The captain played his part in a convincing 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, but Arteta is convinced there’s more to come.
Odegaard put the finishing touch on Arsenal’s win, scoring the third after Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz had already set the tone. Marking the start of another campaign with silverware in hand.
For Odegaard, it was the kind of start he needed after a stop-start campaign last year, when injuries kept disrupting his rhythm.
A knee injury in the first half of last season sidelined Odegaard during a tricky autumn for Arsenal, when several attackers were missing. The same issue resurfaced in April, costing him another appearance just as the title race reached its climax.
Asked about his captain following the Community Shield win, Arteta pointed to those interruptions when explaining why Arsenal did not consistently see Odegaard at his best last season.
“He missed five or six months for different things and it was extremely difficult for him to get any momentum.”
Despite injury issues with the captain, Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a league title.
Arteta, however, is convinced there’s another level to Odegaard’s game, if Arsenal can keep him fit.
“I’m sure this year if we can maintain him fit available with the players around him, we’re going to see a very different Martin.”
That could make all the difference as Arsenal look to defend their crown.
Since making the move to North London, Odegaard has become one of Arteta’s key figures, not just for goals or assists, but for his ability in the final third, the connection built with Bukayo Saka on the right whilst leading by example with Arsenal’s pressing game.
Odegaard struggled last season; despite strong performances on occasion, rhythm was much harder to come by, with injuries stopping consistent runs of games.
Odegaard showed just what he could do as he led Norway to their best-ever World Cup finish, whilst individually becoming only the third player on record to assist a goal in each of his first three FIFA World Cup appearances.
Odegaard captained Norway through to the World Cup Quarter-Final this summer [USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect]
Odegaard captained Norway through to the World Cup Quarter-Final this summer [USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect]
His performance and goal against City will offer hope that the form he found during the summer will continue.
Already two goals up, Odegaard drifted into the box just after half-time and finished with trademark composure to make it three. From there, Arsenal saw out the rest of the match with little fuss, sealing the Community Shield.
Arteta has picked up on a shift in his captain’s mindset since pre-season began.
“And I sense from the first day that he joined that he has something else on the belly that he wants to prove and show because the team needs it as well.”
Arsenal have strengthened their Premier League midfield this summer, with the addition of Bruno Guimaraes, giving the Gunners a number of options on how they want to set up their midfield.
That depth should help Arsenal manage minutes more carefully, but Odegaard is still the man with the armband, remaining at the heart of the creativity when going forward.
Arsenal lifted the title last season without ever getting a full, uninterrupted campaign from the Norwegian.
If he can stay fit this time, Arteta is convinced the best is still to come.